Robinson, Clarence C.:
CAREERS FOR BOYS
The University Society Inc., New York, 1933.

It seems irresponsible to direct youthful enthusiasm into farming, construction, law, medicine, banking, etc., while entirely omitting the popular and promising profession known as... Used Book Tycoon.

<-- front cover

Reed, Carl, and Joseph Orze:
ART FROM SCRAP
Davis Publications, Worcester, MA, 1960.

With many intriguing, if slightly forlorn, photos; and a handy "Projects & Materials" chart at the rear ("...Bark; Beads; Boxes; Burlap; Buttons...").

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n/a:
OUR LITTLE ONES IN HEAVEN
Sampson Low, Son & Co., London, 1858.

Despite the Victorian kitsch factor, these poems and sermons memorializing dead children could cause a world-weary bookseller to weep at his desk.

<-- frontis and title page

Kempf, Julius:
KLEINWOHNSTÄTTEN DER GEGENWART
F. Bruckmann Verlag, München, 1950.

Every Bavarian needs a comfortable place to hang up his lederhosen. Here are photos and floorplans for dozens of styles of folksy cottages.

<-- p. 108

Chu, H.F.:
HOW TO KNOW THE IMMATURE INSECTS
Wm. C. Brown Co., Dubuque, IA, [ca. 1970s].

Sure, they're cute when they're larvae...

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Sager, Raymond M., et al.:
THE SAGER WEATHERCASTER
Weather Publications, Pleasantville, NY, 1969.

Housed in an unassuming spiral-bound book, this circular slide rule is "an instrument based on meteorological science. It is in fact a handy computer."

<-- introduction and circular slide rule

Walker, Sara MacLeod:
HIGHLAND FLING COOKBOOK
Atheneum, New York, 1971.

Recipes for Scottish delicacies like Meldrum potted hough, Killiecrankie mince collops, Dingwall invalid toast... but oddly, nary a haggis in sight.

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Prus, Robert, and Styllianoss Irini:
HOOKERS, ROUNDERS, AND DESK CLERKS
Sheffield Publishing, Salem, WI, 1988.

Considering a career change? This study is so richly detailed, it could serve as a practitioner's guide to the hustling life.

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Gummerus, H.O. (ed.):
VISION
Finnish Society of Crafts & Design, [Helsinki, 1966].

When Finnish designers reflect on Finnish design, the result is as serene as a dark lake in a spruce forest.

<-- interior spread (unpaginated)

Meibomius, John Henry:
A TREATISE ON THE USE OF FLOGGING IN MEDICINE AND VENERY
1/500 copies. Isidore Liseux, Paris, 1898.

Apparently a vigorous whipping on the backside sends a glut of overheated blood to the testicles... with predictably bestial consequences.

<-- title page

Turnill, Reginald:
THE OBSERVER'S BOOK OF UNMANNED SPACEFLIGHT
Frederick Warne & Co., London, 1974.

For the geek who gets along better with machines than with people, a guide to Cold War satellites and space probes might offer something like companionship.

<-- front cover

Applegate, Rex:
RIOT CONTROL -- MATERIEL AND TECHNIQUES
Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA, 1969.

The nuts 'n' bolts of political oppression: tear gas deployment, street-fighting tactics, using the baton, etc.

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[Tennyson, Alfred]:
THE WORKS OF ALFRED TENNYSON, POET LAUREATE
E. & J.B. Young & Co., New York, [ca. 1880s].

Overdressed Victorian book pomp: in addition to the lavish binding with its inlaid medallion, all the page-margins inside are festooned with engravings of melancholy landscapes.

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Lettvin, Maggie:
THE BEAUTIFUL MACHINE
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1972.

Not really a book, but a slipcase filled with 180 vaguely erotic photographic cards showing how the author tones her body by bending over a chair, stepping on a phonebook, etc.

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n/a [Serge Jacques, phot.]:
FOLIES DE PARIS ET DE HOLLYWOOD. No. 280
Société S.N.E.A.R., Paris, [ca. 1964].

The succulent cheesecake photography of Serge Jacques, served up in sizable helpings. With accompanying text in French, bien sûr.

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Sparke, William, and Clark McKowen:
MONTAGE: INVESTIGATIONS IN LANGUAGE
Macmillan Co., [New York], 1970.

A high-concept textbook, so visually dynamic that it's not even clear what discipline it aims to teach: narrative theory? graphic communications? concrete poetry?

<-- front pastedown & title page

Watney, Marylian:
THE ELEGANT CARRIAGE
J.A. Allen & Co., London, 1973.

Descriptions and images of the Tilbury Gig, the Equirotal Phaeton, the Post Chaise, and dozens of other swanky conveyances from the horse-drawn past.

<-- front cover

Sumach, Alexander:
THE ORIGINAL AND AUTHENTIC GROW YER OWN STONE
Reprint edition. Firefly Books, [Toronto, ca. 1980].

Lost in his work, the author chose to forgo mechanical typesetting in favor of a meticulously hand-lettered text; the misspellings add an air of intimate authenticity.

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Kesler, Ken:
DARTS, A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE GAME
Self-published, Calgary, [ca. 1990].

Apparently those guys at the back of the pub spend lots of time pondering aerodynamics, anti-bounce technologies, and advanced alloys.

<-- front cover

[SCHOOL COMPOSITION BOOK, BLANK]
No publisher, [Toronto?], [ca. 1930s].

Instead of a notebook decorated with ponies or matinee idols, young Marybelle selected one with an ambiguous ethnographic portrait on its cover. Then she signed the upper right-hand corner in pencil.

<-- front cover