Monday, November 26, 2012

Now available: 13.0.0.0.0

No doubt you are wondering about that title. No, it's NOT an IP address, they only have four numbers between 0 and 255 separated by three periods. No, it's NOT an enzyme identifier, which look the same as IP addresses, though are not limited to 255 and I am not sure if they permit zero.

Actually, it's a date from one of the old Maya calendars, in what archaeologists call the Long Count, which indicate a continuous sequence of dates from some presumably mythical starting point somewhere around 3100 B.C. This particular date, 13.0.0.0.0, is the one which is supposedly coming up very shortly, at least according to one particular alignment of the Maya sequence with ours. Other historians give different correlations, and this particular book, the ninth installment of the Saga De Bellis Stellarum, uses a correlation which makes this end-of-the-baktun fall in December of 2015 - on the birthday of John Collins, no less!

So, if you are curious to hear how the world "ends"... you may wish to check it out. You can rest assured that there are four more installments to come, so you need not look so tragic... but do recall what Chesterton said:
Every short story does truly begin with creation and end with a last judgment.
[GKC The Everlasting Man CW2:379]
The Saga is, of course somewhat more lengthy than a short story... but we shall defer discussion of the other matters to a future time.

Oh yes, if you want to get the book, or find out more, go here.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Now Available: Os Olhos do Condor

Happy feast of St. Albert the Great, patron of Science!

To celebrate, we are releasing the eighth installment of the Saga De Bellis Stellarum today. It is called Os Olhos do Condor, which is Portuguese for "The Eyes of the Condor" - it tells of the adventures of our three heroes during the spring semester of 2015, when the great Espada plant in Brazil is threatened by industrial sabateurs. Meanwhile another sort of danger springs up in Stirling, PA...

But I don't want to reveal too much, of course! There are some very exciting parts... so visit here to learn more or to order the book.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Now Available; What More Do You Want?

Today, the feast of the martyr St. Josephat, part seven of the Saga is now available!Yes, half of the installments are now in print and ready for your enjoyment.

This one is titled What More Do You Want? - it covers the fall semester of 2014. You may order it here.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Now Available: Three Things Which Go Well

The next part of the Saga, part six, entitled Three Things Which Go Well, is now available! See here for the "back cover" blurb or to order.
Don't forget to check out our new website for the Saga, wherein you will find a variety of stuff - a basic introduction, the list of the titles, and also some "background" information... the sort of thing Tolkien put into the appendices of his masterwork.
Remember, there are seven more volumes still to come. I have to be very careful not to reveal any of the secrets... and YES there are plenty of secrets awaiting you.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Now Available: Tree of Virtues

Happy feast of St. Luke - "the White" - and the evangelist!

Today, we have two important announcements.

To start off, the fifth part of the Saga is now available! It is called The Tree of Virtues.

Also, there is now a whole new website for the Saga, wherein you will find a variety of stuff - a basic introduction, the list of the titles, and also some "background" information... the sort of thing Tolkien put into the appendices of his masterwork. There's almost none of that there yet, but then it's just beginning. Besides, there are eight more volume still to come, and I have to be very careful not to reveal any of the secrets... and YES there are plenty of secrets awaiting you.

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Raffle Flyer from Horrors in the Attic

Due to a variety of complications, the flyer for the Gutenberg Festival raffle was omitted from The Horrors in the Attic. It is fictional, though the books are (or have been) real enough. But it was back in 2007, so don't try to purchase a ticket.
 
Bastian Bux and Brian Leary, co-chairmen of
The Sixth Annual Gutenberg Festival
Thursday July 12 - Saturday July 14, 2007
present
A Raffle
for the Benefit of
The Quayment Hospital

Single ticket price is $20.00.

Drawing to be held Saturday evening at 7:30

This leaflet courtesy The Quayment Morning News.

Quayment is America's Book Town. Your support of the Festival and the Raffle helps us continue this grand tradition! Purchase your raffle tickets at any Quayment bookstore, at the Town Hall, or any Quayment bank.
Ticket sales close Saturday at 5 PM!


*** The Big Prizes ***


(1) Donated by Alexandria's (specializing in very old books)

Please note: In June 2007 Alexandria sold her stock to Bastian's, just before it was struck by arson. Recovery operations are underway. Mr. Bastian Bux has the delight to present as the chief prize, a SIGNED copy of a very early edition of

CARROLL, LEWIS. [DODGSON, CHARLES LUTWIDGE] Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. London: Macmillan and Co., 1867. 8vo. 42 wood-engraved illustrations after John Tenniel. Skillfully rebound with original gilt cloth covers and spine mounted. From the fourth printing (with "eight thousand" on title-page), author's presentation copy. Inscribed copies of Alice are rare and this copy is particularly early - inscribed in black ink before Dodgson received his supply of purple ink in October 1870.

NOTE: AS-IS. Strong odor of smoke. You may request to inspect this volume at Bastian's.

Estimated retail value: $3,900

(2) Donated by Leary's (the classic American used bookstore)

Long famous for its bookstore in Philadelphia, Leary's is America's choice for unusual and rare early American volumes.

Brian Leary, manager, presents:

YOUNG, JOHN RUSSELL (Editor). Memorial History of the City of Philadelphia From Its First Settlement to the Year 1895. Volumes I & II. New York: New York History Company, 1895. Complete in two volumes. Volume I: Narrative and Critical History, 1681-1895, by Howard M. Jenkins. Volume II: Special and Biographical, by George O. Seilhamer. 4to, [xxxii + 568pp] + [(9) + 484pp]. Each volume includes a tissue-guarded frontispiece as well as numerous plates, maps, portraits, figures, and facsimiles of original documents. Newly rebound in black buckram with gilt-stamped titles to spines. Text is crisp and unmarked.

Estimated retail value: $300

(3) Donated by The Phantom Tollbooth

The Phantom Tollbooth gives access to the twin worlds of science and engineering and of arts and literature. Both classical and modern books of all sorts are to be found here.

The Soffia brothers present:

Unknown as we go to press.

(4) Donated by Bastian's, formerly known as Coriander's (specializing in fiction, fantasy, mystery)

Bastian's is the anchor store of the south side, at the corner of Third and Penn, just south of the town square.

Bastian Bux presents:

CARROLL, LEWIS. Sylvie and Bruno. With Forty-Six Illustrations by Harry Furniss. London: Macmillan and Co., 1889. 8vo (7"x5"), xxiii + 400pp. Late 19th century red morocco binding, gilt tooled, raised bands, all edges gilt (a magnificent binding in near mint condition). Original cloth spine and covers pasted-down at rear on free endpapers.

Estimated retail value: $600


(5) Donated by Bremerton's Books

Bremerton's is the perfect Englishman's bookstore. Tea is served every afternoon at four.

CARPENTER, JOHN; WHITINGTON, RICHARD; RILEY, HENRY THOMAS (Translator). Liber Albus: The White Book of the City of London. [SIGNED BINDING]. London: Richard Griffin and Company, 1861. First edition. Compiled A.D. 1419 by John Carpenter, Common Clerk, and Richard Whitington, Mayor. Translated from the Original Latin and Anglo-Norman by Henry Thomas Riley. Thick oblong 8vo, xii + 660pp. Bound by Leighton and Hodge in full morocco leather with five raised bands, gilt stamped title to spine, and decorative blind tooled borders to boards. Page edges stained red. Marbled endpapers. Title page printed in red & black. A beautiful copy, in excellent condition. Binding is firm and square; text is immaculate.

Estimated retail value: $250

(6) Donated by Mifflin's, also known as The Haunted Bookshop

The "Parnassus" of Roger and Helen Mifflin, once a travelling book-wagon, and formerly of Brooklyn, now makes its home in Quayment. Smokers are welcome here! Let Roger prescribe your next book. He has what you need.

The Mifflins present:

The Lorsch Gospels. New York: George Braziller, [1967]. 678/1000. A facsimile of a magnificent manuscript from the Carolingian era. After centuries of separation, the four parts which comprise the Lorsch Gospels were united in Coronation Hall of the Holy Roman Empire in Aachen, Germany, on the occasion of the 1965 exhibition of the Council of Europe "Charlemagne: His Achievements and Influence". The cooperation of the respective owners made it possible to photograph the entire manuscript and the ivory covers during the exhibition, so that uniform conditions, necessary for fine reproduction, were obtained. Thus a foundation was laid for the reconstruction of the manuscript in this facsimile edition, which must now serve in place of a unified whole. Folio (36 x 27cm). Bound in quarter vellum over red cloth. Very Good condition. There is also a small insert which serves as an introduction. 4to, 23pp. Bound in grey wrappers. Near Fine condition.

Estimated retail value: $250

(7) Donated by Alarums and Excursions, specializing in scripts of plays and movies and all English literature.

Alarums and Excursions presents:

WILLIAMS, FREDERICK S. Our Iron Roads: Their History, Construction, and Social Influences. London: Ingram, Cooke, and Co., 1852. Examines the impact of the locomotive on Great Britain and other countries around the world. 8vo (8"x5"), xii + 390pp. + 2 plates and numerous illustrations.

Estimated retail value: $200


(8) Donated by The Gamut - music, scores, and a variety of media

The Gamut has a diverse selection of media, ranging from rare scores and practice manuals to CDs, DVDs, and more antiquated forms of recording. Use our listening booths to check out your selections!

The Gamut presents:

PALESTRINA; MOZART; ET AL. Ten Magnificats, for 4 and 5 Voices, by various Composers, suited to the different Seasons of the Ecclesiastical Year. Separate Vocal Parts. London: Burns and Lambert, Music and Piano Repository, c. 1860. Musical notation for tenor with leaves of varying length, with 12 extra pages of vocal music by Mendelssohn bound in. 4to, engraved title-page + 26pp. + 12pp. Bound in 19th century half calf over pebbled cloth.

Estimated retail value: $200

(9) Donated by Readers Anonymous - a motley collection for the anonymous reader!

BARNUM, P.T. The Life of P.T. Barnum. Written by Himself. New York: Redfield, 1855. First edition. First editon of the author's first book. 12mo, viii + pp. 9-404 + (4) pp. publisher's advertisements. Frontispiece portrait of the author and numerous other black & white engravings throughout the text. Newly rebound in blue cloth with marbled paper-covered boards and gilt title to spine. In very good plus condition, with small library stamp to copyright page.

Estimated retail value: $100

(10) Donated by World Books - specializing in foreign and international texts

Tired of the same old English? Perhaps you'd like to read Homer or Virgil or Dante or Don Quixote in the original... you can find them here, and many other books from around the world!

World Books presents:

An Atlas of Ten Select Maps of Ancient Geography, both Sacred and Profane; with a Chronological Chart of Universal History and Biography. Being Intended as an Accompaniment to Mayo's Ancient Geography and History. Calculated for the Use of Seminaries, &c. Philadelphia: John P. Watson, 1814. 4to (27 x 32cm). Bound in contemporary marbled boards with new cloth on spine for reinforcement. Previous owner's inscription on preliminary, "Manton Eastburn", former Episcopal bishop of Massachusetts (1843-1872). Small library stamp on title-page. Boards rubbed. This is a selection of ten hand-colored maps of the ancient world. The maps are: Terra Veteribus Nota, Romanum Imperium, Oriens Tabula, Graecia Antiqua, Italia Antiqua, Places Recorded in the Five Books of Moses &c. (3 maps in 1), The Land of Moriah or Jerusalem and the Adjacent Country, The State of Nations at the Christian Aera, and a Chronological Chart of Universal History and Biography (also hand-colored). All the maps are single-page except for the Romanum Imperium and the Chronological Chart, which are double-page.

Estimated retail value: $500

(11) Donated by The Lab Shelf

The Lab Shelf is your source for science, technology, engineering, mathematics and technical reference works. We have a large stock of journals from all branches of science.

The Lab Shelf presents:

DARWIN, CHARLES (1809-1882). The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, including an Autobiographical Chapter. Edited by his son, Francis Darwin. London: John Murray, 1887. First Edition. 8vo, 3 volumes. Illustrated. Bound in publisher's green cloth, wrinkling to spine of volume three, hinges tender on volume three, rear hinge cracked on volume one. Good condition.

Estimated retail value: $400

(12) Donated by Driftwood

Located next to Harry's Pier, Quayment's famous seafood restaurant and pub, Driftwood has a large collection of books about the sea and sailing. If you want books that will give you the sea spray far inland, Americana, local works, colonial or antique guides, Driftwood is the place you'll find it. Stop in and see what the tide washed up this week! We also carry a full line of sailing charts.

Driftwood presents:

JONES, GEORGE. Observations on the Zodiacal Light, from April 2, 1853, to April 22, 1855, Made Chiefly on Board The United States Steam-Frigate Mississippi, During her Late Cruise in Eastern Seas, and her Voyage Homeward: with Conclusions from the Data Thus Obtained. [United States Japan Expedition, Volume 3]. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. First edition. Large 4to, xliv + 704pp. Illustrated with 352 woodcut astronomical charts. Bound in light brown half-leather over marbled boards. In very good condition. Binding is firm and straight; contents are crisp, clean, and bright. Withdrawn from a college library, with minimal markings. Discoloration to front endpapers. Mild wear to joints and corners. A very nice copy overall.

Estimated retail value: $200

(13) Donated by Weaver's Books

The only major bookstore on the north side of our bay, housed in the former "Psephic Church of God" high on the north hill, Weaver's has some of the most unusual and rare books even in a town bursting with rare and unusual books. Ride the free Quayment shuttle and see - it's well worth the visit - don't miss the splendid view! Past Gutenberg Festival chairman Phil Weaver is the present owner, fourth in the line of the Weaver family owners of the bookstore. His daughter Mary is the store manager.

Phil Weaver presents:

The Septuagint Old Testament in Greek and Latin: E palaia diatheke kata tous ebdomekonta. Vetus Testamentum græcum juxta septuaginta interpretes, ex auctoritate Sixti Quinti Pontificis Maximi editum juxta exemplar originale vaticanum... Cum latina translatione, animadversionibus, et complementis ex aliis manuscriptis cura et studio J.N. Jager... Editio DD. De Quelen, Archiepiscopo Parisiensi dicata. [Complete in 2 volumes]. Parisiis: Editore Ambrosio Firmin Didot, 1855. Two 4to volumes. Bound in quarter leather with marbled boards. Marbled endpapers. Four raised bands and gilding to spines. Corners bumped, light rubbing to boards. Library stamps to half-title pages. Text in excellent condition.

Estimated retail value: $250

* * * * * * *


As we go to press, there are at least twenty lesser prizes, including a five-day double-room gift certificate for next year's Festival from the Quayment Hotel, several $100 gift certificates useful at any Quayment bookstore, and gift certificates for Ray's Family Restaurant, Harry's Pier, and Shelly's.

Be sure to check Saturday's edition of the Quayment Morning News for the final list of prizes!

Please note: Ticket sales will close Saturday at 5PM - so buy your tickets early!

The drawing will be held at the bandstand in the town square on Saturday at 7:30 PM.


* * * * * * *


The editions of the list which were published after Wednesday contained this additional information on the offerings from "The Phantom Tollbooth":

CARBONELLI, GIOVANNI. Sulle fonti storiche della chimica e dell'alchimia in Italia. Tratte dallo spoglio dei manoscritti delle biblioteche con speciale reguardo ai Codici 74 di Pavio e 1166 Laurenziano. Opera corredata di 242 reproduzioni fotografiche e due tavole fuori testo. Rome: Istituto Nazionale Medico Farmacologico, 1925. First edition. A comprehensive and well-illustrated study of the alchemical manuscripts stored in the Italian libraries. Folio, xxii + 212pp. + index. The text is accompanied by 242 illustrations, mostly facsimiles of various manuscripts. Bound in original quarter parchment with boards; titles printed in red & black. In very good condition. Binding and hinges are intact and firm. Foxing to top edge of frontispiece and title-page, otherwise very clean, unmarked, contents. No signs of prior ownership. Light scuffing and soiling to boards, otherwise a lovely copy. Very scarce.

Estimated retail value: $400

WESTWOOD, JOHN OBADIAH (1805-1893). Palæographia Sacra Pictoria: Being a Series of Illustrations of the Ancient Versions of the Bible, Copied from Illuminated Manuscripts, Executed between the Fourth and Sixteenth Centuries. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1845. Includes reproductions from Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Coptic, and Western European manuscripts. Small folio (33 x 27.5cm), xvii + (3) + 84pp + 50 colored plates. Bound in half red morocco with marbled boards. Five raised bands, with gilt title to spine. Upper hinge cracked, though binding is holding well. Boards rubbed, particularly at bottom edges. Overall good condition.

Estimated retail value: $700

=======================================

Special thanks to Andrew Poole and Chris Hagen and the other workers at Loome Theological Booksellers for their help.

Note: some of these books may actually be available from Loome; check their catalog for details. Do NOT expect this listing to be accurate!

Friday, August 17, 2012

A public exorcism, Your Eminence?

I am posting this excerpt of the Saga in honour of the birthday of Father Stanley L. Jaki, OSB, who warned us of the dangers of evil, and our need to combat it regardless of the cost, and urged us who are yet in the Church Militant to beg divine assistance for those actively doing battle. He, in fact, is the sort of priest like Father Bondost: a priest who would wake a cardinal in the middle of the night.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace. Amen.

* * *


(Just for background: Father Bondost is the master of a boys' orphanage where Glen is a resident. Bernie Brown is the president of the Chivalry Club. Denny is one of the agents of the Enemy.)

                "Oh my God, Father. That obsidian knife! Denny actually had it at my throat..."
                Quickly Father Bondost made the sign of the cross.
                Bernie also blessed himself, then he said, "Of course, Father, that's the old pagan sacrifice of Meso-America. Denny kept talking about Mayan dates." He twisted uneasily in his chair. "All right. If you're willing to wake up a cardinal in the middle of the night, I guess I can tell you... where I think the bad guys are headed. And it's not to my friend's place. It's to the studios of Channel Nine."
                Father Bondost didn't speak, but immediately began to dial.
                "C.B.... it's Denis... In Latinam vocemus, quoniam..."
                His Latin was fluent, honed to almost the state of a pivate dialect – so much so Bernie could barely catch a root here and there. But he kept smiling, and nodding with satisfaction. "Optime, O Mare Apis amicus meus. Ideo... Certainly, though I may be asleep. Ah, I am forgetting – the boys will wake me by then. But call in any case. ... Amen, my brother.... God bless you too."
                He sighed and hung up the phone. "I know you wish to sleep... but I think we had better go and keep vigil."
                "In your chapel?"
                "Yes. He is going to act. God only knows what the media will do in that crazy city... but then again... perhaps it is God's plan." He stood up. "Few men – and fewer priests – would dare to wake a cardinal out of his sleep and send him out... to battle. We ought to show our support in the only way we can."
                "I'm with you, Father."
                He followed the priest to the chapel. As they went down the hall, a door opened. "What's wrong, Father?" asked a young voice.
                "Go back to sleep, Glen. Bernie and I are going to the chapel to pray."
                "I want to come – please?"
                The priest sighed. "Very well..."

* * *

                In New York, Cardinal C.B. Tallisen got dressed, then summoned his clerical secretary to the small chapel.
                Father Lwanga "Larry" Russo, a tall black man named for the great martyr of Uganda, looked dubiously at the cardinal as he put on his episcopal regalia. "You're actually expecting to do a public exorcism, your Eminence?"

                The cardinal was struggling with a recalcitrant button on a vestment. "No, Larry – that is, I'm not expecting anything. But we must be prepared. Something stinks... I don't think it's another September 11, nothing like that. But the enemy is on the prowl, and the shepherd must be awake." He picked up the large Roman Ritual, pulled an overcoat over his vestments, then nodded. "Let's go. You drive, please."

                 The cardinal chuckled as the car began to move. "It's times like this when I could almost wish we were permitted flashing lights like the police... think of it, Larry... yellow and white... and a peal of bells instead of a siren. Maybe I'll send a quaestio to the Sacred Congregation of Rites. I wonder which congregation they'd pass it off to..." He chuckled again. "There ought to be some liturgical awareness of automobiles, don't you think?"

                Fr. Russo was used to C.B.'s wit. "Of course, the usual car lights always make me think of the Divine Mercy image," Fr. Russo replied. "Every time I'm on a highway at night – on one side, the shining white, on the other, the flaming red..."

                "Very good... If I nod off, please wake me."

                "But your Eminence, you didn't say where we're going!"

                "Oh, I beg your pardon. The studios of Channel Nine, at 99th and Seventh Avenues."

[PJF, "13.0.0.0.0" in From Darkness Into Light]