Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2005 Issue
Books On The West From Gene W. Baade
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Here are some more memories from a very popular California vacation spot. The book is B.G. Holmes' Letters of the Early Pioneers of Big Bear Lake. This book was privately printed in 1955, but covers the time prior to 1930. It includes reminiscences of some of the people who lived in or spent time around Big Bear as far back as its first settlement. It's an interesting piece for anyone who spends time there now. Item 62. $125.
There was a time when they used to mix books with advertising, kind of the way they do with children's television programs and movies today. Here is The Texas Cowboy, by Clark Stanley, published around 1901. Stanley describes himself as a Texan who wandered around the West, visiting with Indians, and learning the secrets of their snake oil medicine. And you know what? Clark is willing to sell some of that wonderful medicine to all you gullible readers. Clark Stanley's Snake Oil Liniment "is good for man and beast." Among the infirmities it relieved were rheumatism, lame back, toothache, sprains, frost bites, sore throat, and bites of animals, insects, and reptiles (it didn't specify whether snake bites were included). Supposedly, the oil came not from just any snakes, but rattlesnakes. However, a government seizure of this amazing medicine in 1917 revealed it was mainly mineral oil with a little beef fat, red pepper and turpentine. Not even any garter snake oil. Item 134. $250.
What is a book pertaining to historical Indiana? "Indianiana?" Whatever it is, here is an example: Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana...Maps of Indiana Counties in 1876. This is a 1968 facsimile reprint, but an obvious valuable resource for those interested in Indiana history. Item 73. $50.
Do you remember the story a few years back about a moose who fell in love with a cow? Perhaps it wasn't really love, just animal instinct. I don't know what moose feel. Anyway, it was a wonderful story about this moose who kept trying to romance some farmer's cow. As best I recall, the cow was more reticent and rejected the moose's advances, but I'm not really sure. If you don't remember either, but recall this touching incident, here's a chance to learn the whole truth. The book is A Moose for Jerssica, by Pat Wakefield and Larry Carrara, and yes, Jessica was the love of this moose's life. Item 147 is a first edition from 1987, signed by both Wakefield and Carrara. But not Jessica. $37.50.
For those interested in farming, there is a broadside announcing a Public Sale of Stock and Implements in Iowa City, Nov. 10th, '79. That's '79 as in 1879, not 1979. The sale included the land and 25 cords of wood. The broadside is in good shape but has two nail holes. Makes sense for a poster. Item 74. $75.
