One of the best aspects regarding the back-to-back California Antiquarian book fairs is the shop’s New Acquisitions! In other words, items that we find at the fair hit our online database in a matter of weeks afterwards. We picked up more than a few interesting items in Pasadena and Oakland, and though they are not yet catalogued, they are something to watch out for in the near future! Here are a few items to intrigue you and keep you coming back for more (even though our wit and charm does that already, I’m sure):
1. 1793 British Pub Menu, with Pricing Inked In. This menu looks to be from a Pub or Restaurant of some kind owned by John Hargrave, probably called the “George.” Located in Leek, Staffordshire, England, this small menu printed by F. Hilliard has the pricing for “Eating”, “Wine, and Negus”, “Liquors & Punch”, and “Ale, and Porter” written in. The customer spending a total of 18 shillings, 6 pence (an equivalent of almost an entire British pound when converted. In 1793 that was a lot. Someone clearly had an alcohol dependency.) The menu is in Very Good condition, with little wear and age-tone for its age. Want to know its price? I guess you’ll have to email me for it! Email Margueritte at msp@tavbooks.com
2. So You’re Going to Germany and Austria! And if I Were Going with You These are the Things I’d Invite You to Do. by Clara E. Laughlin. “Nowhere else in the bounds of a small and handy volume can the traveler find so accurate and comprehensive and at the same time so sprightly and readable a guide. Miss Laughlin regards the ideal tourist journey as one skillfully blended of movement, of fresh, quick impressions, and of leisurely stays where the ‘feeding’ is richest for your special hunger – whether that hunger be for rest or for inspiration, for shopping or for sports, for museums or for restaurants, for meditation or for dancing…” Laughlin writes in an easy-going manner, with the countries she visits in this handy travel guide separated by city. It includes inserted plates of b/w illustrations and photographic reproductions. A colorful dust jacket on this 1930 volume makes it a beautiful asset to any travel-guide collection!
3. The San Francisco Blue Book… Season 1888-89. Published by the Bancroft Company in 1888. “Being the Fashionable Private Address Directory, and Ladies’ Visiting and Shopping Guide of San Francisco and Surroundings… Containing the Names, Addresses, Reception Days and Country Residences of the Elite of San Francisco…” (yeah, that’s not creepy at all). An extremely early holding of the well-known serial The San Francisco Blue Book, the earliest holding located on OCLC being the 1889-1890 directory.
4. 1963 Chevrolets with the 1963 Chevrolet Finger-Tip Facts: Planned to Help you Sell the Greatest Choice of Chevrolets Ever. This dealer showroom sample catalogue and smaller “Finger-tip Facts” binders are more than just binders with pictures of cars. It includes sections of fabric samples and custom features for passenger cars such as the Corvette, Impala, Bel Air, Biscayne, Chevy II Novas and Corvair Monzas. Many new innovations were introduced to the year’s cars, such as self-adjusting brakes, optional tilt steering, factory AM/FM radios, and vinyl tops in white or black. Also, this was apparently the debut of the 1963 Split-Window Corvette (Vic told me to say that… I’m unsure as to what that means). Very rare to see these two first editions offered together.
