Our find
this week takes us back to 1991, 1971, and, finally, 3500 B.C. – all in one
swoop! How is this possible? Behold, the power of a hidden treasure tucked
into the pages of an old used book.
It is
not unusual for the book that contains our find to be just as interesting as
the find, itself, and this week is no exception. Our book is a first edition, limited printing
of Hugh Johnson’s “The World Atlas of Wine,” published in 1971. This book contains 272 pages of pictures,
articles and maps that, together, create a comprehensive reference book for any
wine enthusiast. Beyond the printed
pages, however, the book actually contains much more. This gem was once so loved by its previous
owner that it was filled with newspaper and magazine clippings from several
different publications spanning decades, providing additional insight and new discoveries
to enhance the topics in the book.
It was one
of these newspaper clippings that caught our eye and helped to make this rare
book part of our “find of the week” collection. Tucked into pages 187-188 was an article from
the New York Times entitled, “The Earliest Wine: Vintage 3500 B.C. and Robust”
printed in April of 1991. This article
detailed the discovery of an earthen jar from Sumerian ruins in Iran containing
rich-colored deposits that were high in tartaric acid - almost certainly the
traces of ancient wine. The jar, with
its narrow mouth, tall neck, earthen stopper and rudimentary seal, was deemed
to be ideal for storing liquids at the time.
Previous
to this discovery, little research had been found to point to the earliest origin
and first uses of wine. With this find,
however, the article now suggests that wine was consumed long before Noah
planted his vineyard after the flood, or the “first toast was drunk to Dionysus
on the shores of Homer’s dark-wine sea.”
In addition, other items such as a stone-bead necklace and a marble bowl
were unearthed next to the jars. These
objects were deemed to be luxury items at the time, suggesting that even in
3500 B.C., wine may have been a high-end item, or status symbol, as it is often
considered to be today.
A first-edition
book, many old magazine and newspaper clippings, and the discovery of ancient
jars that could contain the first evidence of wine – all previously hidden on
one of the shelves of our used books! To
get in on the historic (and wine-filled) fun, “The World Atlas of Wine” can be
yours for the price of $25.00. You can
catch up with our previous finds of the week from the used book floor at
bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook. Better yet, stop by our store in Center
Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!
