MooseSnort Books - Double Win

Winner of Best Name of the Day *and* Best Description of the Day. Selling apparently only though ABE, MooseSnort Books proves that you can live in MN and still have a good sense of humor (or, perhaps, *must* have a good sense of humor). Their description is:

We hate to brag, but we might be THE BEST INTERNET BOOKSTORE IN THE WHOLE DANG WORLD!!! Really. Our Mom says so. **We take the time to look at EVERY book we sell, and describe the condition of all our online books, including mention of any flaw we find. **On request, we GIFT WRAP all our books FREE! **E-mail photos (of our books) are available upon request. Please note how reasonable our postage rates are compared to the outrageous prices the big companies charge! MooseSnort books is located in rural Minnesota. There are lots of cows here. cows, and corn. Church basement suppers. Cows. Town festivals where you throw a big rock if you are manly, and where everyone gets corn on the cob. If we didn't have these books... well, look out is all we can say.

Toward their stated desire to be the best internet bookseller, they state (on their ABE homepage") that they "think we have a pretty good shot at it too because we are not distracted by all those loose cars and fast women like some city folk we could mention if we weren't so polite."

I haven't bought a book from them...but I like them and hope that they do well. Look, cows.

Like fine wine....Tom C and Between the Covers...

Tom Congalton is one of my more favorite humans on earth (sometimes you just have to be able to pin such things to one's sleeve). Above and beyond being a great bookdealer (and one extremely open and sharing with his knowledge), he also built [or oversaw the building of] one of the very best bookshop websites ever. Personally, I think he should license it, but I'll go into the genius of Between the Cover's website in an upcoming post (on design options and UI).

My reason for throwing up this post, however, is simply to recommend his wonderful short essay on age and aging in the book trade. Much of what he says mirrors various concerns/rants of my own...only *much* more eloquently (that is, the bits on age, the profession and [unspoken] the fun of performance art theatre of the absurd...not so much the poker). Enjoy...and avoid poker, stick with games you can throw math at...

Moet Champagne for everyone...Ebay loses another one...

A French court ruled this morning against eBay in yet another "stop selling counterfeits of our stuff" suit. Following up a recent ruling in favor of Hermès against eBay, the court today awarded LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) approximately $60.9MM...finding eBay had done little or nothing to stop the sale of fraudulent items on their site. With luck, Tiffany (who recently found that 80%+/- of "their" jewlery on eBay was counterfeit), Patek Philippe and others will follow suit (pun intended).

Pity the ABAA lacks standing to sue them for the countless number of bogus "signed" copies of various tomes that litter their site. Bookdealers are going to be dealing with EBay forgeries for decades and beyond as these "great buys" enter the secondary market. The worst will be caught by dealers who pay attention...then only requiring the uncomfortable experience of telling the current owner that they got ripped off. The better ones, who knows...but I wager it will cost the profession money (in buying back a bad signature, driving down the "value" of signed copies lacking solid provience and/or pushing many of us to avoid signed copies as much as possible).

Do not get me wrong, eBay serves a very useful purpose and can be an good venue to both buy and sell...but few places should the term caveat emptor remain top of mind...

eBay has said they will appeal. I know they like to stick with thier "we are just a marketplace, we can't be held responsible for the malfeasence of our sellers", but I think they are (eventually) going to lose on this claim. The legal term is "willfull blindness" and eventually they will have to do something about it...but only when the cost of suits/fines exceeds the commission from fraudulant sales.

Bookshelf/Front Room Update...

Mounting the bookshelves has begun. The included images show the very first spacer/strapping mounted (the excitement is almost palpable) and the first foundation box in place. These will bring the cases up 9 inches off the ground to the lower box. There will be a shallow shelf (1 inch thick and about 4-5 inches deep) before the upper shelf box.

The bottom boxes are designed for folios and the like, the upper for various smaller tomes. The fascia boards are going to be 1 inch thick, to support the SIX FOOT glass doors that will eventually cover the upper shelves (with matching smaller ones below). We will be rebuilding the mantle as well (which is currently a "modern" (and ugly) 1950s rebuild). It will eventually tie the two spans of shelves together *and* have a shelf integrated into it for 12mo and smaller volumes (the fireplace is non-functional).

Finally, there will be an 8 inch stepped crown. This will come "out" from the shelves so we can sink lights in the crown that will wash each section of the bookshelves. It should be nice if and when it is ever completed.

I spent a bit of the morning at the shop of the woodworker doing this project. As you may recall, we have a friend renting our first floor who, as the fates would have it, is also a wildly talented woodworker and artist (in wood and other material)...pictures of some of his other work should follow. As I've said previously, he does amazing things with wood...our shelves are basically a weekend project. The strapping in the first image is a good example of why working with Brian is such fun.

With any rational carpenter, any strapping like this would be picked up from a lumber yard as Grade C (structurally sound, but not necessarily pretty). Just before we left the shop, Brian remembered we would need some strapping/spacers to bring the shelves off the wall. He went over the the racks of rough boards (6 to 24 inches wide, 1+ to 3 inches thick...he buys lumber "by the tree") and picked a nice 8 foot poplar board. We then ran it through the planer a few times to bring it to 1 inch thick and then the joiner to true the sides...then ripped it into 2.5 inch wide boards. Maybe it is just me...but it was so much more pleasing experientially than going to Home Despot and picking up crappy strapping.

The other images show: a laser line showing where the top of the "shelf" between the upper and lower shelf boxes will be (laser levels are extremely cool); the first foundation "box"; one of the lower cases on said first foundation (please picture fascia boards and baseboard molding).

Progress is being made. Updates to follow.

Fine Bindings on a Sunday Morning...

There was a nice segment on fine bindings on CBS Sunday Morning this morn. The story ranged from some modern fine/art binders, to the Morgan to a gentleman who gave his daughter $20K in finely bound classics for her HS graduation. The publicity blurb is as follows:

BOOKBINDING: In a remote corner of western New Jersey, Jamie Kamph puts her own touch on the ancient art of bookbinding. Gold leaf and intricate leather detailing help to elevate the art. Kamph’s interpretation of Huckleberry Finn won the nation’s most prestigious bookbinding prize. And the trend is catching on with people of all ages. J. Dinsmore Adams helped underwrite $20,000 worth of hand-bound books for his daughter’s high school graduation. We’ll also take you to New York City’s Morgan Library where one of the most extraordinary collections of fine bindings anywhere is housed. It was created by industrialist J. Pierpont Morgan who often bought entire collections of books just because of the beautiful hand-tooled bindings. And finally, you’ll meet Herb Weitz who designs the bindings for Oprah’s Magazine and the scripts for directors like Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese. He thinks everyone should splurge on a fine binding once in a lifetime. He’s now marketing to an entirely new crowd. Rita Braver reports on a new chapter in the fine art of hand bookbinding.

If/when it is available on youtube or the like, I'll post it.

Yet another reason to loath politicians...

So, as many of you know, Congress recently changed its tune and passed a bill granting immunity to telecoms that turn over customer data to the federal agents without warrants. In March of this year, Congress (in a far too rare show of spine/respect for the Constitution) 220 Dems voted against telecom amnesty as embodied in the Whitehouse's spy bill. This week, 94 of them voted to approve the functionally identical bill.

Maplight.org done a bit of digging and discovered that between March of this year and June, those who switched their votes received on average 40% more in contributions from telecom interests than those who did not switch their positions. See also, here, here and ranting geeks here. Personally, I think the Fourth Amendment is a fair bit more important than the Second (which did quite well this past week)...but what do I know...

Why I like the Brunswick Library Sale...

So we went to the preview of the Brunswick Public Library this afternoon. It is, as I have mentioned before, one of my very favorites. This is largely because they host this very well run preview. You have to join the Friends of the Library ($10/person or there is a family membership) and you are limited to only 10 books per membership. This combination results in a much more pleasant experience for those of us who do not like throwing sheets over tables while shrieking "this table is all mine" (and then proceeding to go through said table and leaving half or so).

There were still a fair number of dealers, but only the well behaved one *laughing*. One actually told me that he was there *because* I had written about how nice it was...that'll teach me (if, of course, I was capable of learning simple lessons...). Interestingly, there was a small clot of young "dealers" (or scouts, or something) using identical cells with one of the bar code scanner tools. I watched them for a bit, as I was curious about the practice (and had already picked the 20 books Suz and I decided to take home with us). I don't know...especially at a preview like this, where you are not buying "volume"...if you can't *pick* the 10 books you are going to take home with you, you should probably find a new vocation.

One of them, in particular, was focused on trade paperbacks. She very diligently scanned book after book...picking up one here and there. More power to them. The cost/benefit of the process elludes me...but then I trust my head and my gut.

I've vetted the 20 we took home. Only one fell just below my cut-off for cataloguing ($25) but will make a nice gift *g*, four were gems, the rest solid. It was probably the second best trip to this sale we have had (the best included a lovely 1926 first of Winnie the Pooh). Interestingly, the scanner jocks would have ignored that little gem...no barcode, not interest. Very strange.

Harpooned another Whale...

I just received my third Lakeside Press edition of Rockwell Kent's Moby Dick, affectionately called the Whale in a Pail due to its aluminum slipcase. It is arguably the most beautiful copy of Moby Dick one can possess and I am extremely fond of it. I am very pleased to have been able to have three of them in the last couple of years.

Technically, I have a fourth copy on its way, too. This one was missing its slipcase, which is a reasonably major negative. However, it has an interesting association with Kent and it will be housed in a custom made slipcase in full leather "art binding" and should be stunning when finished. I'll be certain to post images when it arrives.

fun shipment instruction of the day...

I am shipping an unusual little tome to an unnamed government entity. I was asked, at the last minute, not to ship it to the agency itself, but rather to the home of the individual who ordered it. Why, I hear you ask?...because, "all mail entering is irradiated and this has damaged some previous early volumes."

Seeing one's name in nature...

I'm trying not to let it go to my head, but really...how many people have had spiders write their names. This little guy is commonly known as the Writing Spider, aptly named as the manner in which if forms its webs often results in there being embedded letters. This spider is clearly sharper than most.

Interestingly, the spider in Charlotte's Web was not a Writing Spider but an Orb Spider (this as she gives her full name as "Charlotte A[raneus] Cavatica", the later two being the scientific name for the orb spider. Personally, my favorite edition was that illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (but I am very partial to his work.

Tasha Tudor [Starling Burgess] - 8/28/15-6/18/08

This following is making the rounds on various bookish listserv groups:

It is with great sadness that we must tell you Tasha Tudor, 92, passed away in her Vermont home on June 18, 2008 surrounded by family and friends.
We thank you for supporting Tasha Tudor's lifestyle and artwork during her long career. We hope that Tasha's message of 'taking joy' in all that one does will be remembered as we pass through this difficult time together.

-The Tudor Family

The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy. Take Joy.
Fra Giovanni

A wonderful illustrator, writer and generally lovely human. I know what I will be reading the boys later this afternoon. [This and the image lead to the Tasha Tudor website.]

Science, theology and stupidity running amok in LA...

Apparently, everything is Louisiana is going so well that the Senate and House can waste time, money and...you know...their children's intellectual future on yet another "let's teach creationism as if it were a scientific theory" bill. The republican governor (interestingly, a Hindu turned Catholic), is expected to sign the bill into law. The ACLU and an untold number of other rational organizations will then attempt to save LA from its own stupidity.

I know I have ranted about ID before (see, e.g., here, here or here) and will do my best to avoid doing so again. But. Errr. Ahhh. SERIOUSLY! What the hell is going through these people's collective heads? This is a state whose students score 44th and 46th nationally in Reading and Math, 50th in Advance Placement exams, and is second highest in the nation for the number of children living below the poverty line. Yet rather than spend time/money/effort trying to dig its schools...and students...out of the mire, they spend their time trying to further muddying their already murky educational waters. Twits.

England, rather recently, issued new guidelines to teachers on creationism and ID. They included a wonderful passage on what makes and does not make a "scientific theory":

The use of the word 'theory' can mislead those not familiar with science as a subject discipline because it is different from the everyday meaning of being little more than a 'hunch'. In science the meaning is much less tentative and indicates that there is a substantial amount of supporting evidence, underpinned by principles and explanations accepted by the international scientific community...Creationism and intelligent design are sometimes claimed to be scientific theories. This is not the case as they have no underpinning scientific principles, or explanations, and are not accepted by the science community as a whole.

There is something about the very carefully premediated effort to repackage/promote theology as a scientific construct that I just find wildly offensive...to both theology *and* science. I am have too much to do to rail about this today...and it annoys me too much. Please see the "About FSM" et seq. for an enjoyable analysis of the logic flaws and do not miss the Open Letter to the Kansas School Board. Admittedly, I am fond of sarcasm...it is so much more pleasant than screaming and whacking people with boards...

Also, though published some time ago in the renowned scholarly source, The Onion, please also see "Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory".

ILAB/ABAA catalogues...

I just realized that the ILAB/ABAA websites creates lovely little catalogues based on my keyword tags in Bookhound. I wish everyone could make it this simple.

"I am a Strange Loop"...great interview with Doug Hofstadter

Here is a great interview with Douglas Hofstadter (author of Gödel, Escher, Bach (Pulitzer Prize, 1979) and Le Ton beau de Marot) recently posted. The interview was originally published in Hebrew and, as such, did not get a great deal of play in the west... It revolves around his newest book, I am a Strange Loop.

I have a soft spot for freakishly sharp minds...and DH has at least two of them. Great read, all.

For a geekish discussion of such things, see the /. musings.

Does Obama cares more about the US economy than McCain?

Non-book, but interesting: Politico is running an article on the two campaigns' financial condition...and Obama's commanding lead pretty much across the board. The article notes the following figures:

Obama spent $75 million on television advertising, and McCain spent $11 million...

The Big O clearly cares more about the US economy, pouring a stunning sum into the coffers of various US business, which in turn trickles all the way down to the countless cups of Starbucks coffee that drives all media companies at this point. The two teams will undoubtedly blow through $500MM...*not* counting what the DNC/RNC and various interest groups will throw on the fire.

Think how many books could have been purchased...

On a slightly related note, for those who like a strong injection of tech with their politics, there are some interesting blathering over at /. Personally, I have a hard time getting beyond McCain's opposition to net-neutrality and support for warrant-less surveillance. - Enjoy.

Really long catalogue entries to make yourself crazy...

So I have been cataloging a collection of Civil War volumes (one of several collections that I am up to my eyes with or under, depending on the day...sorry about my silence of late). I just spent several days working on an unusual atlas...one that involved a great deal of research and from which I must admit I learned a great deal and found profoundly interesting. The entry is currently as follows:

U.S. War Department, et al. [Compendium Civil War Atlas Built Around:] Military Maps Illustrating the Operations of the Armies Of The Potomac & James May 4th 1864 to April 9th 1865: including Battlefields of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, The Siege Of Petersburg And Richmond Battle-fields of Five Forks ... Maps partially prepared by order of Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant ... Surveys and Maps were executed under the direction of Bvt. Brig. Genl. N. Michler ... and Bvt. Lieut. Col. P.S. Michie ... prepared for publication by Bvt. Brig. Genl. N. Michler ... under the authority of the Hon. Secretary of War. The Surveys and Maps relating to the Battle-fields ... under orders of Brig. & Bvt. Maj. Genl. A.A. Humphreys ... [N.B. This atlas includes Eight additional, related maps (including the renowned "Battlefield of Gettysburg" (all three days/maps), as fully described below)]. Washington DC: War Department/Office of the Chief of Engineers, 1869. First Edition Thus/Privately Bound. Light shelf/edge wear, light wear at head, tail and tips, light rubbing at hinges, dampstain to front board, several maps show minor careful repair, handful small closed tears, the last (Central VA) is a "built" map (in three parts), very minor toning to leaves, else tight, bright and unmarred. Halfbound, black leather spine and tips, gilt lettering and decorative elements. Elephant folio. np. Illus (color and b/w plates). All but one map is double folio (two elephant folio leaves) or larger (several fold-out and one "quad" comprised of two double folios sheets). Hardcover. Very Good [Maps Very Good to Fine]. No DJ as Issued.

Stephenson states these are a "detailed series of maps indicating fortifications, roads, railroads, houses, names of residents, fences, drainage, vegetation, and relief by hachures." (Stephenson 518) The color embodied in these first edition maps makes these significantly more readable than the later editions. This atlas contains all 16 maps as required of the 1869 edition (including the often missing "Harper's Ferry"); interestingly, one of the extra maps tipped in at rear is the "South Mountain" map that was *not* included in the original 1869 printing but *was* included in the 1872 second printing. Originally published as a portfolio of loose plates with a title page, this set was tab-bound (so the maps open flat with no loss) with additional, related maps.

The original maps include, in order:
1: Richmond (double folio; 1.5":1mi scale)
2: Appomattox Court House (double folio; 3":1mi)
3: The Wilderness (double folio; 3":1mi)
4: Spottsylvania Court House (double folio; 3":1mi)
5: High Bridge and Farmville (double folio; 3":1mi)
6: Jettersville and Sailors Creek (double folio; 3":1mi)
7: Bermuda Hundred (double folio; 1.5":1mi)
8: Petersburg and Five Forks (double folio; 1.5":1mi)
9: Totopotomoy (double folio; 3":1mi)
10: Harper's Ferry (double folio; 3":1mi)
11: North Anna (folio; 3":1mi)
12: Gettysburg and Appomattox Court House (double folio x2)
13: Antietam (double folio; 3":1mi)
14: Cold Harbor (double folio; 3":1mi)
15: Chancellorville (double folio; 3":1mi)
16: Fredericksburg (double folio; 3":1mi)

Additional maps include, in order:
1: Campaign Maps Army of the Potomac Map No. 1 Yorktown to Williamsburg (double folio (fold-out); b/w; map compiled 1862; engraved by Dongal)
2: Campaign Maps Army of the Potomac Map No. 2 Williamsburg to White House (double folio (fold-out); b/w; engraved by Dongal)
3: South Mountain (double folio, b/w, N.B. omitted from the original 1869 P&J atlas but added in the 1872 second printing, included here as part of the compendium material)
4: Map of the Battle Field of Gettysburg - Day One, July 1st, 1863 (oversized double folio (fold-out), color, 1":1000', First Printing, 1876) [N.B. This set of three Gettysburg maps are *extremely* desirable and equally hard to find either together or in good condition...a spectacular addition to this collection.]
5: Map of the Battle Field of Gettysburg - Day Two, July 2st, 1863 (oversized double folio (fold-out), color, 1":1000', First Printing, 1876)
6: Map of the Battle Field of Gettysburg - Day Three, July 3st, 1863 (oversized double folio (fold-out), color, 1":1000', First Printing, 1876)
7: Map of the Vicinity of Hagerstown, Funkstown, Williamsport, and Falling Waters Maryland. (showing positions circa Oct. 1, 1863, oversized double folio, color, 1879)
8: Central Virginia Showing Lieut. Gen'l U.S. Grant's Campaign and Marches of the Armies under his Command in 1864-5. (oversized double folio, color, pieced in three sections.

A remarkable collection of 24 maps exploring the actions of the Armies of the Potomac and James. The "core" atlas is rarely found complete and/or in good condition and the "Three Days of Gettysburg" maps are also a rare find complete and in Near Fine Condition. Together and with the additional maps present, this is a unique and quite exceptional collection and a wonderful addition to any sophisticated Civil War collection.

Minor issues...please stand by...

The template for this blog basically ate itself and I am required to rebuild it...all sidebar is lost and will be rebuilt in the not-too-distant future...