New York: Harper & Brothers, 1903. Hardcover. Two folio bound volumes with all of Harper's Weekly issues for 1903. They are a fascinating compilation of articles, events, news, and numerous illustrations documenting the events in the United States and around the world. They offer an enthralling view of the country's concerns and interests at the beginning of the 20th century. Even the advertisements for products and services are quite interesting. Most of the covers continued having political cartoons. Many of the articles throughout the year were on automobiles, technology, and construction. There were weekly columns on "Americans of Tomorrow," and "Books and Bookmen ', and weekly appearances of cartoons by the well-known illustrator of the time Albert Levering. The technology articles are particularly interesting, on such topics as power from sunlight, American wireless technology, around the world in 40 days, lighting a metropolis (New York City), and Germany's suspended electrical train system. President Theodore Roosevelt received much coverage for his many activities outdoors and participating in sports such as horse jumping. He visited the West at Yellowstone, and other locations. The state of Georgia received special attention with many articles on their history and present along with descriptions of their large and small cities. It appears that there may have been supplements to the weekly issues that were not bound here. There is a several page supplement in the July 25 issue on the death of Pope Leopold XIII with several illustrations. Interesting illustrations included four page fold-out of the members of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Supreme Court, and another three page fold-out of Harper's authors that included Mark Twain, Henry James, Thomas Hardy, Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Robert W. Chambers and many others. There were just a few short but provocative items about lynching and about the increase of assaults by black men against white women and the theories why. Bound in black cloth with gilt titling to spine. The spine and corners are chipped and abraded as usual. Covers are slightly worn and rubbed. Interior pages are generally very good. Library reference sticker affixed to rear pastedown is the only indication of library ownership. There is a pagination anomaly, with the December 12 being numbered pages 3-77 with regular numbering resuming in the December 17 issue. Although not entirely, the December 12 issue focused on Christmas with several color illustrations. 2122 pages. PER/062223. Very Good. More

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857. A folio volume of the complete first year's issues of this influential periodical of the 19th and early 20th century. It is the first of an annual fascinating weekly publication of articles, serial novels, news, with numerous illustrations documenting the notable events in the United States and around the world. It includes the serialization of British novelists, including Wilkie Collins's "The Dead Secret," and a part of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's "What Will He Do With It," with a flattering biography of Bulwer-Lytton at the beginning of the first episode. "The Dead Secret" was published without author attribution but a publisher's note does acknowledge Collins on p. 161 of the June 4 issue. There is also the serialization of a Dickens short story, "The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices." Among other interesting items are a series of articles on travel in Bible lands; an article titled "Scenes in an American Harem, about Brigham Young and his wives; "Homes Exercises" for women; and much material about British India and the rebellion. The covers of this volume are missing, as is the spine. The first signature is detached, but the remainder of the volume remains intactly bound, albeit not very firmly. Early pages have dampstaining and sporadic foxing. There are several torn pages throughout, one page had been detached and glued in backwards, a cigarette burn on page 175. There is browning to all of the pages, not affecting legibility. Despite the condition issues, this is still an interesting and relatively scarce copy of the debut year of the publication. 828 pages. PER/053123. Good +. More

New York: Harper & Brothers, January - December 1898. Hardcover. Two folio bound volumes of Harper's Weekly issues for January - December 1898. They are a fascinating compilation of articles, serial novels, news, and numerous illustrations documenting the notable events in the United States and around the world. There was extensive coverage of the Spanish-American War from its beginning in July through its end in December. Copiously illustrated with illustrations and photographs of the war's events. Prior to that the issues from the first part of the year reported extensively about military activities and events in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Carl Schurz, the German-born stateman and journalist wrote a by-lined article each week from January through April on important issues such as why the US should not restricti immigration, primary election reform, and the future of the war in Cuba. The dystopian fantasy novel, Red Axe, by S.R. Crockett was serialized from January through June. The serialization of The Awkward Age by Henry James began in October. A story by Stephen Crane was serialized over two issues. He died two years later in 1900. And notable for us is the obituary of the great Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones on pages 651-652. There are several full page color illustrations; two maps of the South China sea and the North Atlantic showing European colonial possessions identified by the country's flag; two pages showing US navy uniforms; an advertisement for Ivory Soap; and a double page spread with a color reproduction of a Howard Pyle painting. There is a supplement in May with a four page biography of statesman and former prime minister William E. Gladstone. With many advertisements in each issue reflecting the interests and products of the time. Bound in black cloth with gilt titling to spine. Fairly extensive chipping along spine and to the corner's of the covers. Decorated endpapers. The January-June volume is generally very good with occasional spots and a few closed tears to the margins along the fore-edge. The front hinge of the July-December issue is cracked and the cover of the issue for July 2 is partly detached. Otherwise also generally very good. Light aging to pages and occasional spots. A library sticker is affixed to the rear pastedowns of both volumes but no other evidence of library ownership. These are heavy volumes that will require extra postage. Pages 2 -1304. PER/053023. Very Good. More

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1882. Hardcover. This is a scarce bound folio volume of Harper's Weekly with all of the issues for 1882. It is a fascinating compilation of articles, serial novels, news, and numerous illustrations documenting the events in the United States and around the world. They offer an enthralling view of 19th century concerns and interests, down to the advertisements for products and services. There were no reports of cataclysmic events for the year other than the famous trial of Charles Guiteau for the shooting of President Garfield, leading to the president's death. But there were many interesting things to be written about. Items included a piece on the ostentatious and costly mansions built by members of the Vanderbilt family; research on the Zuni Indians; and flooding in the West and by the Mississippi River. The advertisements reflected the great interest in electricity, with ads for such items as an electric corset and a girdle, and an electric hairbrush. There were several notable deaths and funerals reported on, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Richard Henry Dana, and Guiseppe Garibaldi. To us, it was the death of Anthony Trollope, reported in the December 16 issue, and the serialization of his Kept in the Dark that was particularly noteworthy as he is one of our favorite authors. This is the last novel published while Trollope was alive. It was serialized from 5/27 to 10/7, about simultaneously with its appearance in England's "Good Words." Harper & Brothers published the book edition three weeks before it was published in England by Chatto & Windus (see the Heritage Bookshop Bibliography of Trollope, page 268). Bound in black cloth with gilt titling to spine, with some rubbing, bumping, and light soiling. Generally in very good condition, with a few loose or folded pages, and some dampstaining to margins starting on page 550. A nice compilation of that year's issues. 844 pages. PER/061423. Very Good. More

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1899. Two folio volumes contain the full number of issues for 1899. They are a fascinating compilation of articles, events, news, and numerous illustrations documenting the events in the United States and around the world. They offer an enthralling view of the country's concerns and interests at the beginning of the 20th century. Even the advertisements for products and services are quite interesting. This year's issues focused extensively on the conclusion of the Spanish-American War and the resulting acquisition several of new United States possessions, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. There were continuing series titled "Our New Possessions" on the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Another continuing series was titled "Reconstruction of Cuba. There were also several pieces by Casper Whitney titled "Hawaiian-America." There was more coverage than in some years on Music and Drama, as well as on amateur sports, with many articles. In the second half of the year there was reportage on the Boer War, and the efforts to open a Nicaragua canal (to this day a canal through Nicaragua has not been successfully completed). The most important literary serialization was that of the dystopian science fiction novel When the Sleeper Wakes. It appeared from January 7 to May 6, with many striking illustrations. There was a little more use of color, with three full page advertisements for Ivory Soap and a four page Christmas supplement titled "How the Buccaneers Kept Christmas" by Howard Pyle Bound in black cloth with gilt spine titling. The covers are rubbed, bumped, and have chipping to the corners and spine ends. The pages are in very good condition save for a few tears, occasional spots and pages 355-358 being loose. There is a library sticker affixed to the rear pastedown but this is the only indication of library ownership. 1970 pages. PER/062123. More

Philadelphia: Thomas Parker Williams, 2019. A unique artist's book from noted book artist Thomas Parker Williams signed and dated by him. Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. He often creates videos and composes music to accompany his books that may be found on his website (www.thomasparkerwilliams.com). Books by Williams or the Luminice Press imprint under which he and his wife Mary Agnes Williams issue books, may be found in over 70 public collections around the country including the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Paradise Lost is a compelling wordless narrative accompanied by original music that explores variations of loss in America, over time and in the present. Williams describes the meaning of his book in a passionate statement: "Starting with the forests where native peoples lived before Columbus, the book follows slavery as Africans are captured and forced to work on plantations owned by wealthy white men. Although many landowners lost their way of life after the Civil War, the anonymous power figures did not die, and continue to crush black, brown and white workers and families who are expendable. Finally, as we confront the reality of climate change, even the Earth itself is expendable. In the past four years America has further revealed its dark side. Blatant racism against black, brown and Asian citizens has become almost normal. However most of the perpetrators of these acts fail to realize that they are just pawns of the real power figures who care nothing for them and will throw them away when they are no longer needed....If America, or for that matter the rest of the world, ever wants to find 'paradise' again, we must realize that resources will have to be shared and all people will have to be respected. Otherwise, our lives will be enmeshed in constant conflict that will benefit no one except the anonymous power figures." The book is held in a custom hinged wood container with the title on a copper plate affixed to the cover. It measures 8.25 x 15.5 x 2 inches. There are 20 original black and white ink drawings that trace the history of the enslavement and misery imposed on indigenous peoples since their paradise was discovered centuries ago. There are mysterious figures on several of the drawings that represent the anonymous power figures. The drawings are done on 20 sheets of Twinrocker Da Vici Heavy Text handmade paper. The book is accordion bound, with each sheet measuring 7 x 14.75 inches that extend to 295 inches when the sheets are unfurled. There are two discs in envelopes affixed to a black paper cover: a DVD of the book's video and music made by the artist to accompany the book, as well as a CD of the music only. This original music was composed, performed and recorded by the artist. Housed in a custom clamshell gray cloth box. In fine condition. ARTB/051623. Fine. More