For those who do not believe Shakespeare was Shakespeare, there is Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence's The Shakespeare Myth. You might call this work an "aside of Bacon." Durning-Lawrence argues in this 1912 book that the real author of the works attributed to William Shakepeare was Sir Francis Bacon. Bacon is best known for his development of the scientific method, using observation, rather than inductive reasoning, to explain events. Bacon was also involved in politics during Shakespeare's lifetime, although his habit of getting into debt may have led him to make a few bad choices. He ended up disgraced, but permitted to live his life in relative ease through the support of King James. While Bacon was once the leading candidate for the "real" Shakespeare, today there are numerous others who compete for that title among the skeptics. But, maybe Bacon was the one who really shot JFK. Item 736. $15.

Here is a great title to interest children in the book arts: Bob the Binder's Progress. We all know how influential "Bob the Builder" is with children. Can "Bob the Binder" do the same? Actually, the bibliophilic Bob came first, as this is a 1955 work. It contains reprints of advertising which used "Bob the Binder" as its spokesman. However, it will certainly take an enormous effort to make the art of bookbinding as exciting to children as huge bulldozers scraping up mountains of dirt. Item 76. $40.

Item 184 is a rare book that carries an important association. It is Marciano; or, the Discovery. A Tragi-Comedy, by William Clark. This is a privately published 1871 edition of this old Scottish poem, one of only 75 copies printed. What makes it particularly notable is that it carries the bookplate of Algernon Swinburne, one of the most popular poets of the 19th century. Swinburne died in 1909, and the main sale of his library was conducted in 1916. $250.

You may find Oak Knoll Books, and its catalogues, online at www.oaknoll.com or call them at 302-328-7232.