Old Used Rare Collectible – Lady Bird Books Vintage – The Aeroplane – [Collectors Item]

Posted on May 20, 2012 by admin
Lady Bird Series 654 : How It Works - The Aeroplane

Lady Bird How It Works - The Aeroplane

 

Information on ladybirds Books -Lady Bird Series 654 -  How It Works – The Aeroplane

Publisher : Ladybird Books Ltd.  Loughborough
Author       : David Carey
Illustrator : B.H.Robinson
Published Date : 1967
Printed in       : England
ISBN No          : 0721401295

Introduction

The world has become incredibly small now with aeroplanes. Travelling is so much faster from one country to another in just hours and not days, weeks or months.

This vintage, rare Ladybird book The Aeroplane, describes how an aeroplane works and how it moves in the air. An aeroplane is heavier than air in which it has to fly and this old Ladybird book explains simply how and why an aeroplane works.

It is a complex subject but a very fascinating one.

The Air

The earth’s surface is surrounded  by air and it has an atmospheric pressure due to the weight of the air above it. When we move away from the earth’s surface and go higher, the pressure becomes less because there is less air above to press down.

Air is also compressible, which means it is more compressed, or denser nearer to the ground. That is why air at sea level is heavier than the air higher up, the air is more dense at sea level.

These differences in air pressure and density have a very great bearing on the design of the aeroplanes. This Ladybird book will help to explain and better understand how a plane flies in the air.

Lift and Drag

Remember how flying kites in the air requires some strategy where you have to run and holding the string it will rise higher and higher as you pay out the string. Such a thrill!

This is how it works, the upward force where the kite rises is called the lift. With aeroplanes, the lift is essential for flight. It is a useful force where it is obtained partly by the wings and partly by the aeroplane’s forward speed.

Drag is a backward pull which hinders forward motion and has to be reduced to a minimum. This is seen when you grip the string of the kite tightly and draw the kite towards you in the air, you feel a pull as the air tries to hold it back. The drag is a pull and it acts against the direction of flight.

Air speed and ground speed

There are two kinds of speed : flying speed and ground speed.

For example, when you run with a kite at five miles per hour in still air, its ground speed will be five miles per hour because that is the actual speed at which you are pulling it over the ground.

If instead you are running with the kite at five miles per hour against a light breeze, the ground speed will be the same but, because the air is passing the kite at ten miles per hour, the air speed of the kite will be ten miles per hour;that is, the speed at which you are running plus the speed of the air blowing past the kite.

When you stand still in the same breeze with the kite, the ground speed is now nothing, but the air speed is still passing the kite at five miles per hour, so its air speed is five miles per hour.

Ground speed decides how long a aeroplane will take to fly from one place to another. The air speed provides the lifting force and the drag.

Conclusion

I wish I could put in more information but it will be too long. There are so many chapters in this little Ladybird book that describes in detail how the aeroplane works like :

Aeroplane wings, stability and movements of an aeroplane, controlling the aeroplane, taking off, turning, landing etc.

It is simply and clearly explained with very clear illustrations of how the plane works. A reading delight for both adult and child.

An informative old, rare, vintage Ladybird book that is educational for anyone who is interested in flying a plane or to have a career with the planes. An interesting book to add to your book collection.

Continue to browse through my website at www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting updates on old, rare children books.

 

 

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Old Used Rare Collectible – Lady Bird Books Vintage – How It Works – Farm Machinery [Collectors Item]

Posted on March 31, 2012 by admin
Lady Bird Series 564 : How It Works - Farm Machinery

Ladybird How It Works - Farm Machinery

Information on ladybirds Books -Lady Bird Series 654 -  How It Works – Farm Machinery

Publisher : Wills & Hepworth Ltd..  Loughborough
Author       : David Carey
Illustrator : B.H.Robinson
Published Date : First Published 1970
Printed in       : England
ISBN No          : 0721402658

Introduction

This children’s Ladybird book is an old,rare book because it’s on farm machinery which is hard to come by. Children in our current modern world thinks that most food comes out of tins and paper-wrapped packets or bundles.

How it works – Farm machinery Ladybird book clearly explains why and how the farmers  use such machinery on their farms to feed the ever-growing population. This is because over the years, the villagers have drifted away from their farm land into the industrial life of the community.

The modern farmer has to rely on the farm machinery to help do the various jobs on the farm much more quickly when, before, there were more workers to help in the labour. The new farmer has to be something of a technician as well as an expert on the land.

Farm Machinery

The most common piece of equipment on the farm is the tractor. It’s the one basic machine from which nearly all the others can be worked.

There are different types and sizes of tractors to suit the type and size of the farm to cover the many different jobs on the farm. It can tow a trailer laden with hay or animal feed. It can travel over rough or soft ground.

Another important machine on the farm is the plough which also comes in various shapes, types and sizes. It turns the soil over in the furrows and leave it exposed to the air where the earth made by the plough must then be broken up and levelled before the crops can be planted.

Some farms rear animals as their livelihood and these farms have milking machines to extract milk from the cows or goats by a process which resembles as closely as possible the sucking action of a calf.

Conclusion

There are other interesting and useful farm machinery which I have not listed here as it is very detailed.

This children’s Ladybird book is an eye-opener to learn and expand their knowledge on where and how food comes to the table.

It describes in detail the parts of the farm machine and how and what it does to work effectively on the farm. There are also illustrations to help explain it clearly.

A very informative, fascinating, old, used rare Lady bird book that will bring about some discussion to young inquisitive minds.

Continue browsing through my website at www.bookwhispers.com for more collective Lady bird books and other old rare books.

Happy browsing!!!

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Russian Fairy Tales : The Fire Bird

Posted on March 27, 2012 by admin

The Fire Bird

Information on  Russian Fairy Tales – The Fire-Bird

Publisher : Progress Publishers, Moscow
 
Translators  : Bernard Isaacs & Irina Zheleznova
  
Illustrators  : Igor Yershov & Ksenia Yershova
 
Printed In   :  The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
 
Printed Date   : Second Printing 1976

ISBN No         : NA
 
 

Introduction

I came across this book in an annual Book Fair Sale and was captivated by the bright, bold colours on the front and back covers. When I flipped through the pages, the illustrations found on the pages were equally colourful with very detailed, fine artwork.

This story book, The Fire Bird, is a book on Russian Fairy Tales. It has been translated from the Russian language to English. The Fire-Bird was translated by Bernard Isaacs and the other four stories by Irina Zheleznova.  I must give credit to the two illustrators, who have done a brilliant job to capture a child’s eye.

Besides the colourful illustrations, the stories are equally captivating. Like any Russian folklore, it has magic and fantasy, which is comparable to the Grimms fairy tales.

I honestly feel this book, The Fire Bird, is worth mentioning as the stories together with the flavour of Russian artwork have captured the Russian essence.

The Fire Bird

This fascinating story is about a Tsar named Berendei who had three sons and the youngest was named Ivan.

Being a Tsar (which is like a King) he had everything and in his beautiful garden he had an apple-tree that bore golden apples. However, the apples were being stolen and the Tsar did not know who was stealing the golden apples.

As in any story with three sons, the Tsar told them to find out who was stealing the golden apples and the youngest son saw that it was the Fire-Bird.

The story doesn’t end there but continues with its unique twists and turns and encounters with interesting fairy tales characters, where one is a wolf, that makes you want to know how the story will end.

Besides this main story, there are the other four Russian Fairy Tales in this book like The Frog Tsarevna, Chestnut-Grey, Emelya And The Pike and Vasilisa The Beautiful.

Each of the original and unique story will captivate the child’s interest and imagination.

Conclusion

Mostly everyone grew-up on fairy tales stories for children and some remains deep in your heart and mind. Your thoughts just go into another world of make-believe and wonder. Your imagination just flies!

Russia is full of mythology and fantasy in their stories . It’s also evident in their jewellery designs and other collectibles. Very unique and unusual. Rare and one of a kind.

That’s how I find reading this Russian folktales and fairy tales  – very absorbing and fascinating. You just get lost in the story together with the bright, beautiful, detailed illustrations. It’s a book I would recommend for a child to read to expand and explore the different flavour of the country that the stories are based on. It will be an educational journey for the child.

Continue to browse through my website at www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting book finds.

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Vintage Rare Book by Author, John Bunyan with Illustrations by Frank Jennens : The Pilgrim’s Progress

Posted on March 17, 2012 by admin
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

The Pilgrim's Progress

Information on Vintage Rare Books – The Pilgrim’s Progress

Publisher : Bruce Publishing Co. Ltd., Watford
 
Author  : John Bunyan
  
Illustrator  : Frank Jennens
 
Printed By   :  Purnell And Sons, Ltd.,Paulton (Somerset) and London

ISBN No         : NA
  

 Introduction

This rare, old, vintage book is a classic where it captures your interest from the beginning to the very end.

The storyline is simple enough with a moral inflection but the imagination of the author, John Bunyan, together with the original black and white illustrations by Frank Jennens makes this a fascinating read.

It starts with an introduction of the author’s life where he was an idle boy at studies and was comfortable with profanities. The turning point of his life came when he was discharged from the army and became active in the parish church and was truly sorry for the errors of his early ways.

As he started to preach after being baptised, he was put in jail. The reason? In those days, only the clergyman of the Church of England was allowed to preach. He was arrested in 1660 and cast into the County Gaol of Bedford and stayed there for twelve years where he wrote the first part of The Pilgrim’s Progress.

It is written in the simple style of the old English as John Bunyan wanted to reach out to  everyone and not to the elite only. It’s a very quaint style and this rare, old book has kept true to the original writing.

About The Story

Before the story proper starts, the book begins with a section from the author titled, ‘ The Author’s Apology For His Book‘. It is written in a prose style and very insightful. Then only does the story begin below.

The Pilgrim’s Progress is an imaginary story centred on a man called Christian. He as not a very rich man and had a family, a wife and four children.

One day he had a dream. He dreamt of a man clothed in rags, standing with a book covering his face and a great burden on his back. Christian saw this man opening the book and reading it whereupon he became very distressed.

This is how the story starts from that point onwards in this vintage, rare, old book. Christian was the man in the dream and that is how his journey started, leaving his family and friends behind to search the meaning of life.

Christian encounters very interesting characters on his journey who plays a vital role in him making his own choices and facing the consequences of those choices.

His first encounter was with an Evangelist who guides Christian to the right path. Then the Evangelist leaves Christian on his own where he meets another character called Good-will. The story ends with such compelling encounters and eventually the death of Christian.

Conclusion

This classic story is comparable to the likes of the Bible or any of the main religions of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

It teaches you what is right from wrong and the choices one makes decides your fate. It is not a book to convert one’s life in outlook but to think deeply about your life’s values and how to deal with it.

The author, John Bunyan, wrote this book based on his own life experiences and the struggles to deal with one’s own demons. It’s a very thought-provoking read where I personally feel relates to today’s living.

A special mention on the illustrator, Frank Jennens, who illustrated this book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, was an accomplished children artist who produced excellent pen and ink drawings. His painting for book frontispieces and plates were always to a high standard. The drawings in this book is done in this medium in black . Very artistic and compelling. He also wrote some books himself which is scare and sought after like the Brown Mouse and it’s sequel Brown And White.

The Pilgrim’s Progress is an interesting read and should be added to your reading selection. There are reprints with different illustrators but mine I believe is a first edition book with its dust jacket  on (some wear and tear).

Continue browsing through my website at www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting and collectible books.

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Out-Of-Print, Vintage Rare Book – A Nursery History of England by Elizabeth O’Neill

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

A Nursery History Of England

Information on Vintage Rare Books – A Nursery History of England

Publisher : Thomas Nelson And Sons, Ltd
 
Author  : Elizabeth O’Neill
  
Illustrator  : George Morrow
 
Published        : NA (Around 1911 or 1912)
 
Printed In   :  Great Britain
  
ISBN No         : NA

Old English History

I love history and this children’s book really captivates your interest to want to learn more about English history from the very beginning. This out-of-print, rare, vintage book is a joy to read with its simple and short description of how the English history evolved.

It starts with how Britons have many kings among themselves and why the people spend a great deal of time fighting for their kings against other people. In this interesting book, it describes the ancient Britons as big and strong with golden hair and blue eyes and not wearing much clothes!

From there it goes on to describe how they did not believe in a God but many gods and use to say prayers to their gods among oak-trees. They had priests called ‘Druids’, who were considered the cleverest among the Britons. The Britons looked upon these priests as doctors and healers who can keep them from being sick or unhappy.

Roman History

The Romans played a vital role in English history and in this rare book it mentions Julius Caesar who heard about the Britons who helped the French against the Romans.

Julius Caesar decided to come and see Britain and crossed the sea in big ships and reached the British shores. When the locals saw these invaders, they threw stones and sharp things at the Romans who had their helmets on and carrying their big shields, made of basketwork and tautly covered with animals’ skins.

Both sides fought bravely but the Romans won and this is the beginning of Roman invasion in Britain. The Romans were in Britain for nearly 400 years.

Now this is where the history gets both very confusing and interesting in the book. It explains that Rome was constantly at war with other countries and needed their soldiers back from Britain. This made the Britons free from the Roman soldiers but they had to fight against some people called the Picts ans Scots from Scotland.

The British King, Vortigern, asked help from two other kings who used to fight on the sea to assist in the warfare. These two men were called the Englishmen, named Hengist and Horsa, who were the first Englishmen to settle and live in Britain.

When they had helped the Britons, these Englishmen did not go back to their country but encouraged more Englishmen from across the sea to live in Britain. After some time, these men won the country from the Britons and so Britain became England. The Britons were eventually chased into another country called Wales.

Conclusion

As you have read from above, it is very intriguing to note that the Englishmen mentioned in this out-of-print, rare, vintage book had very Scandinavian names. I honestly feel that it was the Nordic Kings who came and conquered Britain and changed the course of English history. The black and white illustrations in this book clearly shows that the helmet and costume worn by the Englishmen were very typical Nordic.

It’s a fabulous book with unusual historical interest which could be incorrect but that adds value to the book. Such flaws in the book is a rare find and is a collectible item. I cannot emphasise how such inconsistencies make you want to search and delve more into such history to get the facts right. It becomes a project that will broaden your knowledge.

There are many colour plates in this book plus black and white illustrations to make the reader captivated in the related write-up of the history.

There is no publishing date but the last entry of history is that of King George V and it mentions that the King of England was also the Emperor of India. The coronation of King George V took place in 1911 and that is where I estimate the published date around 1911 or 1912. This book could be one hundred years old!!!! It might also be a first edition.

A rare, out-of-print, interesting book that any child or adult would like to add their book collection. A unique nursery history of England that will encourage an interest in history.

Continue to browse through my website at www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting updates.

 

 

 

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Old Used Rare Collectible – Lady Bird Books Vintage – How It Works – The Motor Car [Collectors Item]

Posted on December 11, 2011 by admin
Lady Bird Series 654 : How It Works - The Motor Car

Lady Bird How It Works - The Motor Car

 

Information on ladybirds Books -Lady Bird Series 654 -  How It Works – The Motor Car

Publisher : Ladybird Books Ltd.  Loughborough
Author       : David Carey
Illustrator : NA
Published Date : 1965, 1971
Printed in       : England
ISBN No          : 072140127

 

Introduction

The Motor Car (1965), from ‘How It Works’ series was used by Thames Valley police driving school as a general guide. This piece of information was found in the Wee Web website dedicated to vintage Ladybird books. It is interesting to note that Ladybird books did not only target the children but adults as well with similar interests.

From the image of my Ladybird book above, you will notice the words ‘Revised Edition’ on the left hand corner. As such this book was revised and printed in 1971. It could be a first edition of the revised version.

This vintage Ladybird book will fascinate any would-be car learner driver. It is thoroughly instructive to those learning to drive. With the aid of excellent colour illustrations and diagrams, it explains simply and clearly the different parts and working units of a car, and their position and function in the general design.

The Motor Car

Everyone knows how a car works – it has an engine which in turn needs electric current, petrol and air. The engine needs cooling so that it does not become too hot, and oil to lubricate the bearing surfaces.

There is also the transmission of clutch, gearbox, propeller shaft and axle, which transmits the power from the engine to the wheels in order for the car to move along the road.

As you are aware now, the engine of the car is the most complicated unit and in this old, rare Ladybird book, there are several pages dedicated to describe it as simply and clearly the various operations and systems that combine to make it work.

The Electrical And Petrol System

Most modern gadgets needs electricity to supply the necessary power to start the machine running. This is the same for a car for the ignition system.

The ignition system in the car has sparking plugs that are an essential part of this system. They are found screwed into the engine at, or near, the top, usually one sparking plug for each cylinder. If a car has a 4 cycle engine, it means it has four sparking plugs and the same goes for a 6 cycle engine with six sparking plugs.

As the name suggests, the purpose of a sparking plug is to make a spark and this achieved by making the electric current jump a gap between two ‘electrodes’ which is found at the extreme end of the plug.

This is how the ignition system works where the spark ignites a mixture of petrol and air in the combustion chambers or the combustion cycle of the engine. Now we must consider the system that delivers the petrol to be ignited.

The petrol system consists of three main units : a storage tank, a pump and a carburettor. The petrol tank is found at the opposite end of the car from the carburettor, which is fitted high up on the engine, a pump is needed to draw the petrol from one to the other, as it is from the carburettor that the petrol is finally fed into the engine.

Conclusion

I did not go into more technical details of what this rare Ladybird book provided. It will take more than a few pages to cover all the topics found inside this Ladybird book as you can see mentioned in the next paragraph.

It has detailed information with equally clear detailed illustrations to accompany it. The topics covered are the dynamo and battery, the coil, the distributor, the carburettor, the pistons and crankshaft, the valves and camshaft, the four-stroke cycle of engine operation, operation of a cylinder engine, the cooling system, engine lubrication, the clutch, the gearbox, overdrive, automatic transmission, the rear axle, the rear axle differential action, the steering system, the brakes, the suspension, different drives and lastly different engine design.

Hope you will search and add this unique Ladybird book to your current book collection. An amazing compact wealth of information from this vintage Ladybird book to increase one’s awareness and knowledge of how a car works. It’s truly a treasure of value.

Continue browsing through my website at http://www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting updates on my old, rare Ladybird book collection and other out-of-print books.

 

Posted in Adult, Children's book, Collectible, Ladybird books, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Old Used Rare Collectible – Lady Bird Books Vintage – How It Works – Television [Collectors Item]

Posted on November 27, 2011 by admin
Lady Bird Series 564 : How It Works - Television

Lady Bird How It Works - Television

 

Information on ladybirds Books -Lady Bird Series 654 -  How It Works – Television

Publisher : Ladybird Books Ltd.  Loughborough
Author       : David Carey
Illustrator : B.H.Robinson
Published Date : 1968
Printed in       : England
ISBN No          : 0721401309

The Inventor

In our modern fast-paced society, we have practically every modern gadget to help improve our lives and living. Television is one of them and it is an equipment found in homes throughout the world.

Television helps to make the world smaller where we can connect with others through watching sporting events, news, documentaries etc from around the world,without moving from our chairs. It is all so easy and comfortable that we take it for granted as part of our everyday lives.

How and where did it begin? It began in 1922 by John Logie Baird, a Scotsman, in a bedroom of a Hastings house. He used a washstand as his work bench and his odd assortment of equipment included an old electric motor, two cycle lamp lenses, a torch, parts of a disused radio, wire, string, glue and sealing wax. Can you imagine from such a humble invention of building a television, we have now progressed a very long way from that day, as this vintage Ladybird book will describe.

This old, rare Ladybird book explains how television works with the various principles on which the whole system is based and how the major parts are designed to make use of those principles. It also describes how a programme is put on, how outside broadcasts are tackled and many other details that can go to make up viewing the television enjoyable.

How A Picture Is Formed

How did the word ‘television’ come about? It is a combination of Greek and Latin words. The Greek word ‘tele‘ means at a distance and you can often see this prefix being used in other forms of long distance communication like telegram and telephone. The word ‘vision‘ comes from the Latin ‘video’, meaning ‘I see’.

The process of how we watch programmes on the television starts where the action is made into a picture by the television camera which then turns it into electricity. From this electricity, it changes into radio-frequency power which is then sent out by a transmitter in the form of radio wavelengths. These radio waves are then picked up as tiny electric currents in the aerial which are conducted down into your television set where they are amplified and changed into a picture again.

What About Sound?

We all know that sound travels through air by vibrations. To hear the sound from our television set is where the microphone is used to turn the sound into electricity. It’s not the volume indicator on the television that I am talking about but how the sound is transmitted to the television.

We don’t see the microphone being used visibly on television today except for live shows. Microphones have become smaller and tiny where it can hardly be noticed, especially when the news reader is using the earphone microphone. In the microphone, there is a metal diaphragm which is a very thin aluminium ribbon clamped in the gap of a strong magnet. As the sound wave vibrates the ribbon, the movement of the ribbon in the field of the magnet creates an alternating electrical voltage across the ends of the ribbon.

Electro-Magnetic Waves

The transmission of both sound and pictures were made possible with the discovery of the electro-magnetic radio wave, and this is the means by which we transfer the variations of electric current (produced by the television camera and microphone) from the transmitting aerial to the receiving aerial in our homes.

Electro-magnetic waves are invisible and it moves backward and forward or oscillate, and each backward and forward movement is known as a cycle. These continuous waves are called the carrier wave , and it is on this carrier wave that the vision and sound signals from the television camera and the microphone are carried into our homes.

It is very important that the carrier wave is much higher in frequency than the sound or television signal it must carry.

Conclusion

I have only mentioned some basic facts of how the television works from this unique vintage Ladybird book. It has explained in detail for other areas of how live programmes are broadcast, controlling the show, tape recordings of live shows, special effects in a movie and an in-depth explanation for how the sound and picture is received into our television sets.

It’s a fascinating book for anyone interested in the media. There is alot of work involved and only looks easy from watching the programmes on the television from our comfortable chairs.

Add this wonderful rare, antique book to your growing Ladybird book collection. The information provided is excellent. Continue to browse through my website at http://www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting updates.

Posted in Adult, Children's book, Collectible, Ladybird books, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Old Used Rare Collectible – Lady Bird Books Vintage – Things To Make [Children's Books - Collector's Item]

Posted on November 21, 2011 by admin

 

 

Ladybird Series 633 : Things To Make

Ladybird Things To Make

Information on Lady Bird Books - Things To Make

Publisher : Ladybird Books Ltd.  Loughborough
Author               : Mia F. Richey
Illustrator   : G. Robinson
Published Date : 1963
Printed in           : England
ISBN No            : 0721401252

                                             

Simple Materials

This Ladybird book teaches both children and adults how to make things out of everyday objects which is usually thrown into the rubbish bin. It’s helping the environment to recycle with useful objects that gives pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction to both the person who makes it and also the one who teaches it.

Children nowadays have lost the interest of being creative and inquisitive to make things out of simple everyday objects. True, technology has invaded and made them more techno-savvy but I still believe that turning something beautiful from a simple object is much more rewarding.

This old, rare Ladybird book can keep a child occupied for many hours, using simple, inexpensive and readily available materials. Even a sick child in bed will be able to make some of the objects listed in this Ladybird book. That will make any parent sigh some relief and have some peace and quiet. Hopefully!!!

Things To Make

Some of the items to make, listed in this book might sound old and dated but it certainly helps to cut costs and makes a child more innovative and fascinated to want to learn more of how to make things.

One of the things to make in this Ladybird book is an Indian headdress which is fun and simple to make for a head costumes party. All you need is a piece of corrugated cardboard, some wide cellotape, some long coloured feathers, a pair of scissors, coloured inks and two paper clips. Just follow the simple instructions in this book and you end up with a simple, colourful Indian chief headband. How easy!!!

Another fascinating and interesting item here is how to create invisible ink for secret messages for kids. I myself never knew that the juice of an onion is the secret ink for the secret message. I discovered from reading this rare Ladybird book! The things you need are just some juice from one onion, an empty ink or some small bottle, a pen, a small bowl and some writing paper. Follow the instructions and the message will be easily revealed by holding the written paper close to the heat of a lamp, and magically, your message will appear.

Conclusion

There are so many other simple things to make listed in this book that I can’t put all of them down. It’s a book that can be useful for teachers with pre-schoolers and help keep the young minds inquisitive and occupied. A real gem, this old, rare children’s Ladybird book to add to your Ladybird book collection. Continue to browse through my website at http://www.bookwhispers.com for more interesting books that are old, rare and out-of-print. Happy browsing!!

 

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Out-Of-Print, Old Rare Book – F.J.Sherman : My Animal Book (Children’s Book)

Posted on November 12, 2011 by admin
Old Rare Book - F.J.Sherman: My Animal Book

My Animal Book

 

Information on out-of-print, rare books – My Animal Book

Publisher : John F.Shaw & Co.Ltd.
 
Author  & Illustrator : F.J.Sherman
 
Published        : NA (Could be in early 1920′s)
 
Printed in       : Great Britain
 
ISBN No         : NA

F.J.Sherman

I don’t know much about F.J.Sherman but I am aware that he did some illustrations for the Anderson’s Fairy Tales where the selling price is quite high. It ranges from US$100 – $300. Quite a substantial amount. I can only assume that his illustrations must be good with such a price on a book.

About My Animal Book

As you can see from my photo above that the animal book is truly in some wear and tear. It is a really an old rare book. The cover boards have some scratches and discolouration due to age and the passage of time. Interestingly, there is no mention of the author but just the illustrator, F.J.Sherman, and so I concluded he must be both.

A search from the web mentioned that F.J.Sherman did several animal books from 1910 to 1938. As my book is undated but has some written words from the person who gave this book to the original owner and dated it 7th May 1924, it could be printed in the early 1920′s. It might be a first edition.

The animal illustrations are done in black and white with such detail and beauty and found throughout the book. There are also 15 full-page colour plates of the animals. It  has covered most of the wild animals found around the world.

English spoken and spelt now is not the same as the early English. The language of English evolves with the era of the times and the spelling of ‘Orang Utan’ is not the same as spelt in this antique rare book. It is spelt instead as ‘Orang-Outang’ and describes where the animal originated and how it lives and moves.

Each different topic of animal is vividly described in a new chapter and shows that F.J.Sherman had a deep love and respect for animals. He tells about each animal in its true habitat and survival with a childlike flair that will appeal to children.

Conclusion

Personally, I find this book a treasure as I tried searching for it on the web with no success. It is one of a kind rare antique children books. The contents of the book are excellent together with the black and white illustrations and colour plates.

This out-of-print, old rare stories of animals book is very limited and if you do come across it by luck, hold on to it tightly! It appeals to both children and adults who love nature and animals.

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Old Used Rare Collectible – Lady Bird Books Vintage – What To Look For Inside A Church – First Edition[Collectors Item]

Posted on October 22, 2011 by admin
Ladybird Book Series 649 : Inside A Church
Information on ladybirds Books -
 
Ladybird Series  649 : 

                      Inside A Church

Publisher : Wills & Hepworth Ltd.  Loughborough
Author               : P.J.Hunt
Illustrator       : Ronald Lampitt
Published        : First published 1972
Printed in       : England
ISBN No         :0721403042
Ladybird Inside A Church

Historical Buildings

We all know how history plays an important role in discovering new ideas, techniques and culture. This is more evident in historical buildings like castles, government houses, heritage buildings and also historic churches.

This old rare Ladybird book tells the meaning of, and the reason for, so many things that we see in a church, especially the old churches. Europe has very beautiful, artistic architecture of old churches steeped in deep history.

As you are aware, religion had an impact in old history. It helped shape the country and the people of that time to what it is today. So entering into such a church, it tells a story of the Christian faith and the lives, joys and sorrows of the people who, over the years, have met there to worship.

Inside the Church

Pews

When first entering into a church, the first thing that you see are the pews. Pews are fixed benches on which the people sit. In the olden days, there were no such seats and the congregation stood or knelt.

Fixed seats were introduced about the 15th century. At first, only a few were attached to the wall for the old and sick and from this comes the saying, ‘The weakest go to the wall’. Later the wealthy had their own private pews and owners of large houses had benches reserved for their families and households.

Altar

The altar is the most sacred part of the church where the Christians go to receive the Holy Communion during the service. It stands in a railed-off part of the church called the sanctuary.

Until the Reformation, the altar was generally made of stone. Sometimes a saint’s body was buried under it in the early days. The stone table was replaced by a table after the Reformation, so that people could gather round it. This can be seen in some modern churches.

Pulpit

What is a pulpit? A pulpit is a raised, enclosed platform from which the preacher gives the sermon. In the olden times, there were no pulpits and sermons were preached outside the church or in front of the altar, and later from the chancel (where the choir sits).

The early pulpits were constructed from oak and they have several sides, and may be hexagonal or octagonal with panels which are carved or painted. Some stand on wooden stems and others on stone platforms.

Before the introduction of the pews, the early pulpits were movable as the churches did not have heaters and the pulpit could be moved to the least draughty part of the church and the people could move also.

It was in 1603 that an order was made that pulpits be placed in all churches.

Pipe Organ

Not many old churches have kept the old pipe organ. The pipe organ has been used in the church from about the 10th century, and were to be found in very large churches by about the 13th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, however, village orchestras led the music in smaller churches and played in a gallery at the west end of the church.

The pipe organ contains hundreds of pipes of all sizes. When the organist plays this organ, the air travels by means of bellows to a certain pipe. The air vibrates in the pipe, making a sound that may be anything from a high-pitched whistle to a deep, low-pitched note, depending on the size of the pipe. Can you imagine the fantastic acoustics vibrating from the walls of the church with such music? Such fabulous ethereal sounds!

The purpose of the pipe organ is to lead the singing and not to replace human voices.

Stained Glass

Church stained glass never fails to amaze me, especially the amount of work, creativity and the sparkling, bright colours when the sunlight streams through them. It gives off a rainbow of colours that is so fascinating.

Stained glass has been used for hundreds of years to add beauty and colour to the churches. Most of the pictures are biblical scenes to help teach the people about the religion when most of them could not read in those days.

Some of the finest stained glass dates from the 13th and 14th centuries and even earlier. In the middle of the 16th century, craftsmen was painting colours directly on the glass, which is called ‘enamelling’ and it looks like oil painting.

The colours in early stained glass were each thought to have a meaning; for instance, red meant divine love, white – divine wisdom, yellow – faith, and so on. Interesting, isn’t it, how colours symbolises the meaning of the whole picture?

Emblems, monograms and symbols

There are various symbols in the carvings, embroideries and stained glass of the church. It is interesting to know what they mean.

The early Christians gave great reverence to the names of God or Jesus, so they did not write the names but gave various symbols for them. Some symbols which can be seen :

Symbols of God the Father – A hand coming from a cloud, or a hand raised in blessing,

Symbols of God the Son, Jesus Christ -

XP = the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ (XPICTOC)

IHS or IHC = the first three letters of the Greek for Jesus (IHCOYC)

INRI = the initial letters of the Latin words for ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’ (IESUS NAZARENUS REX IUDAEORUM). This was the inscription which Pilate wrote and put on the cross which can be found in the bible John 19,v.19.

A Ω = Alpha and Omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It signifies the beginning and the end. They remind us that Jesus is the beginning and the end of all things and suggest His everlasting nature (see Revelation 1, v.8)

Symbols of the Holy Spirit – It’s a picture of a dove with a three-rayed nimbus (halo), or a sevenfold flame, as a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s power (see Acts 2, v.1-4).

More Symbols

There are more symbols to discover in the church like to whom a church is dedicated and symbols of that particular saint in carvings, embroideries or stained glass.

In the New Testament from the bible, there are the four evangelists, St Matthew, St. Mark, St Luke and St. John, each of whom wrote a Gospel. The symbols of these saints are often found as follows :

St. Matthew – a man; St. Mark – a lion; St. Luke – an ox; and St. John – an eagle.

St. Peter – crossed keys, reminding us of Christ’s promise to him (see Matthew 16, v.18-19).

St. Andrew – an X-shaped cross.

An open bible – sometimes found in carvings or stained glass is another symbol for the Word of God.

A ship – it represents Christ sailing through all perils.

A fish – originally a secret sign by the Early Christians when they were being persecuted. The initial letters of the Greek words for ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour’ spell the Greek word for ‘fish’; so by using this sign, Christians were declaring their faith to one another.

Conclusion

There are so many other items listed in this vintage Ladybird book that I just cannot cover all. I only chose the major ones that most people will notice when entering an old heritage church.

Such history and beauty found in the old churches never fail to amaze me and this Ladybird book has done justice to explain it.

Continue browsing through my website at www.bookwhispers.com for more Ladybird gems and other rare, out-of-print books.

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