Lorne Bair Rare Books Offers Radical Literature

Item 289 is an odd combination of antiwar politics and baseball. The year was 1969, and before the fourth game of the World Series, this flier was produced to give to people attending the game: Mets Fans for Peace. It featured a quote from the Mets' great pitcher, Tom Seaver, a fairly liberal guy: “I think it's perfectly ridiculous what we're doing about the Vietnam situation...if the Mets can win the World Series, then we can get out of Vietnam.” Indeed, anything would have seemed easier to accomplish in 1969 than the Mets winning the World Series. The team had never before come even close to finishing with a winning record, not having finished higher than ninth place in its entire existence. Nevertheless, the “Miracle Mets” pulled it off, capturing the World Series in 1969, but the Vietnam War dragged on until 1975. $300.

Item 222 is a photograph of a most respectable group of ladies and gentlemen from 1916. Who would have thought they were a bunch of Socialists? Well, Socialists they were. This appears to be the Young People's Socialist League from Elizabeth, New Jersey. They stand in front of Progress Hall, some holding placards, others the numbers of the wards they represent. A man has a “Don't be a scab” sign hung around his neck. A poster in the background supports the presidential campaign of Socialist Allan Benson, who naturally lost the election, but garnered a respectable 3% of the vote for a third-party candidate. $650.

Lorne Bair Rare Books may be reached at 540-665-0855 or info@lornebair.com. Their website is www.lornebair.com.