What is in a Fortune?

     Ever wondered what the fortune meant that you cracked open at the end of your most recent Chinese food meal?  You have come to the right place!

     Our find, a well-preserved Chinese fortune, was discovered in the pages of a 1994 printing of “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy.  Before we go on about the fortune, (and you know we will) it is worth noting that this classic contains all of the books from J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy, including The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and the Return of the King (complete with maps and an impressive appendix).  Clocking in at 1137 pages, this could be your next winter read!

     Anyway, back to the fortune.  It reads…drumroll…: “You are almost there”.  

     Almost where, we thought?  What kind of fortune is that?  Not a very helpful or enlightening one.  True, a line such as that could mean that “you are almost there” with your personal self-improvement process, or the reaching of your long-awaited financial freedom and security.  It could also mean, however, that “you are almost there” with regard to going home and enjoying your Chinese food, or that “you are almost there” with the cleaning out of that Tupperware drawer of yours.  Jeez.  Come on, fortune-creating people.  We need specificity, here!

     So, in an attempt to clear up our confusion, we did a little research as to where the fortune cookie comes from and its true intent.  In continuation of the theme of uncertainty, however, we discovered that there are four (count them, four!) different theories as to where they come from and why the fortune’s writings were originally created.  Sigh.  Here is the rundown:

Theory #1:  A Chinese immigrant living in Los Angeles founded the Hong Kong Noodle Company in 1918 and created the cookie, complete with a Bible-based inspirational fortune on it, to pass out to people he saw living on the streets.

Theory #2:  A Japanese immigrant and designer of the famous Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate State Park experienced hard times.  When the tide changed for him, he enclosed heart-felt notes of thanks enclosed in a cookie.

Theory #3:  China was occupied by Mongols during the 13^th and 14^th centuries.  Because the Mongolian people were rumored to have no taste for the ingredients that make up the fortune cookie, the Chinese people hid messages of revolution in the cookies and distributed them.

Theory #4: The cookies originated in Japan in 1878, as a recently discovered wood block image resembling the grilling of what appears to be an early fortune cookie depicts.  In the photo, the fortune wasn’t baked inside, but rather, it was placed on the outside, pinched between the two ends of the cookie (think of Pacman holding a fortune in his mouth).

     Honestly, you could throw your lot in with any of the four options.  Or, if you’d rather take your chances with the numbers provided on our fortune and play the lottery, here they are: 8, 11, 19, 21, 24, 36.  Just think, buy the right ticket and you could be “almost there!”  If your hands are currently tossed up in the air with regard to the fortune and you desire “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy book instead, it can be yours for the price of $4.99.  You can catch up with our previous finds of the week on the used book floor at bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook.  Better yet, stop by the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!  

May the Long-Time Sun Shine Upon You

     Agatha Christie, Kundalini Yoga, Halloween and a Scottish blessing are all at the forefront of this week’s “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor”. Only in our blog/column could you find such an odd mixture of topics that somehow go together!

     Our discovery came from Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel, “Hallowe’en Party”. One of Christie’s later works, the novel featured the beloved and well-known detective, Hercule Poirot, and the murder mystery that takes place at a Halloween costume event. Though not one of Christie’s most famous writings, “Hallowe’en Party” holds its own as one of the famed author’s almost 100 books - over 75 of which were bestsellers.

     Concealed in-between pages 114-115 was an index card with the following inscription:

May the long-time sun shine upon you, all the love surround you, and the pure light within you guide your way on.

     Sounds a little like the famous Irish blessing titled, “May the Road Rise to Greet You,” right? Actually, this blessing is Scottish and more well-known for use during the practice of Kundalini Yoga that originated in India. Confused? We were, too, so we dug around a bit to see how a Scottish folk song becomes the closing mantra to a form of yoga from an entirely different culture.

     “May the Long-Time Sun Shine Upon You” is a song (based on the blessing) that was originally created by a Scottish Folk group, “The Incredible String Band,” in the 1960s. Around that time, a man by the name of Yogi Bhajan was busily introducing the Kundalini Yoga practice to the western world and heard some of his students play the song. He liked the song so much that he asked them to continue playing it after his class that particular day. From then on, a tradition was born in the Kundalini Yoga practice, as at the end of each class taught throughout the world, “May the Long-Time Sun Shine Upon You” is played. An interesting mix of cultures, don’t you think?

     We often wonder about the possible scenarios of that relate to the discoveries in the pages of our used books. Was the past owner of this book reading the works of the famous English crime novelist, while practicing a form of yoga that originated in India and closed with a Scottish song? This is a truly an internationally related find, we say!

   
The 1969 hardcover copy of Agatha Christie’s “Hallowe’en Party,” awaits you here at Bayswater Books for the price of $6.99. You can catch up with our previous finds of the week on the used book floor at bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook. Better yet, stop by the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

Hey, Book Detective!

Our latest “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor” unveiled our first ever plant, or deliberately placed find.  How do we know it was deliberately placed?  Well….you will see.

     The book that held our find is a First United States Edition copy of ‘The Children’s Book,” authored by A.S. Blatt in 2009.  While the title suggests that this novel must have been written for a younger audience, the truth is actually quite the opposite.  The author, six years prior to writing “The Children’s Book,” wrote an Op-Ed article in the New York Times that criticized the writing of Harry Potter due to, in her opinion, its lack of writing for adult interest.  It was easy to see what a child would find interesting about the famous series, she stated, but the books were missing “a real sense of mystery, powerful forces, dangerous creatures in dark forests” and “that shiver of awe” that would be needed to keep an adult interested in the books.  Blatt’s response to her perceived lack of adult content in the Harry Potter series?  What else but the writing of “The Children’s Book,” which contains many magical stories, settings and characters, and is anything BUT a book that should be read for children.

     But, back to our first ever deliberately placed find (that we know of).  Hidden away between pages 238-239, we discovered a folded note card that stated the following message:

Hey, book detective- we’re looking forward to seeing you on June 22.  Good luck sorting through all these used books.

     Hey, book detective, we thought?  Good luck sorting through all these used books?  That sounded like a challenge to us, and someone who knows we spend time sifting through thousands of books to discover the forgotten items tucked away in their pages.  June 22, we asked ourselves?  We love a good mystery, and this had us briefly puzzled.

     Then, we remembered.  Our beloved former employee, Josiah, who had scheduled his wedding for June 22 and invited us, must have donated this book at some point, complete with hidden message, to see if we would find it!  We’ll admit, it took us a couple of months to make the discovery, so no, Sherlock Holmes we are certainly not, but alas, out of the pages of “The Children’s Book” finally fell his “book detective” note/challenge.  Josiah, if you are reading this, we say, well played!  Despite the countless used books that surround us each day, we (eventually) found your note and happily accept the title of “book detective.”

     The copy of A.S. Blatt’s 2009 First United States Edition printing of “The Children’s Book,” complete with find, can be yours for the price of $6.99.  You can catch up with our previous finds of the week on the used book floor at bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook.  Better yet, stop by the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!  

#50!

     This week we are celebrating a milestone here at Bayswater - our 50th Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor blog/column!  That is right - as of now, we have discovered 50 books with items hidden in them and shared our discoveries with you along the way.  In honor of our 50th blog/column, we are discussing not just one find this week, but 46!

     Over the course of the past two years, you have heard about items such as tickets, letters, test scores, photos, fishing flies and so much more in our writings.   What we have not shared, however, is that our most common find is...drumroll...bookmarks. We have been squirreling away all of the bookmarks that we have discovered from independent bookstores and our grand total is now 46!  While we have enjoyed watching the size of our bookmark collection grow, it has been even more fun to mark of all of the places on the map where they came from.  Currently, the bookmarks hail from independent bookstores in the states of New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, North Carolina, New Jersey, Colorado, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California.  We even found one from a small bookshop in London!

     Unless this is the first blog/column of ours that you have read, you know that what looks like a simple find at first still always winds up telling a story of sorts.  Such is the case, we are sure,  with our found bookmarks across America (& London).  Some are new, some are old, some bookshops represented are still open and upon a brief internet search, we found that two are no longer in business.  Two are Christian bookshops, one is just for women's literature, and another is actually one half library and the other half bookstore.  We didn't know that such a place existed!  Regardless of their make-up, all of the bookmarks have journeyed here with a past of their own that is comprised of where they have been and who owned them previously.  If only we knew the story of each!

     Though we have reached a milestone, our collection will not end with 46 bookmarks, as we plan to continue to compile those that we find and mark them off on a map.  Eventually, we hope to collect bookmarks from independent bookstores in all 50 states and across the world!

     You can catch up with our previous finds of the week on the used book floor at bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook.  Better yet, stop by the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!  

Picking Your Way To Alaska

     Our most recent find of the week is our first that deals with music and the founding of the State of Alaska.  Before you get your heart set on reading about early Alaskan music, however, (and, honestly, who isn't hoping for that?) we will let you down gently and tell you that the two topics aren't exactly connected to each other for the purposes of this week's find. 

 

     The book that held our discovery is a 1943 hardcover printing of "Lord of Alaska: The Story of Baranov and the Russian Adventure."  Written by Hector Chevigny, it tells the often forgotten story of how the territory now known as the State of Alaska was actually discovered and initially settled by Russia in 1748.  As America and Britain began disputing Russia's ownership of both the Alaskan territory and the northwest coast of North America in 1812, the Russians gave up some of the coastline and began to lose interest in the Alaskan territory.  In desperate need of money after losing the Crimean War in the 1850s, Russia sold the territory to the United States in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars -  a bargain (by today's standards) for a landmass that is roughly the size of one-fifth of the 48 continental states put together!

     In-between pages 196-197 was our discovery - a Sigmund Freud brand guitar pick.  New and never taken off its original packaging, the guitar pick is .7mm thick, making it an extra light, or thin pick.   Less likely to cause tendonitis due to its thinness, this type would have been chosen by a player of a high-quality acoustic guitar.  Believe it or not, the Sigmund Freud pick that we discovered was actually polished for 30 hours to prevent snagging on the strings and overall, took one workweek to manufacture!

     You may be even more interested to learn how the guitar pick evolved to what it is today.  Originally created from feather quills, the composition of the pick transitioned in the 19th century to tortoise shells, or sea turtles, as they were found to be more durable and produced a better sound quality.  If you are wondering if the harvesting of tortoise shells for such a purpose helped to land the reptile on the endangered species list, you would be correct!  In fact, it is now illegal to manufacture anything from tortoise shell and any existing picks made from such material require documentation that affirms their antique status.  If you look to purchase a pick today, you have over 50 different shapes to choose from and you are most likely to find one made of celluloid, (a form of plastic) though you can still purchase some that are composed of bone, graphite, ceramic, animal horn, copper, brass and rubber.  Be sure to file this info away somewhere permanent in your brain for later use when attempting to impress the guitarist in your life!

     Chevigny's "Lord of Alaska: The Story of Baranov and the Russian Adventure" and the Sigmund Freud pick can be purchased for 7.2 million dollars - ahem...we mean, $4.99.  Ok, ok, they are not quite worth what Alaska was in 1867!  You can catch up with our previous finds of the week on the used book floor at bayswaterbooks.com and on facebook.  Better yet, stop by the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!  

Before You Used to Shop Online

     Our 6th annual used book sale took place last weekend and in preparation, we found ourselves going through countless boxes of used books.  It was from one of those boxes that our most recent find was unearthed.  All of this digging around in and among used books makes us sound like archeologists of sorts, (the literary type) we like to think.

     The book was a 1962 printing of "Hitler, A Study in Tyranny" and detailed the dictator's rise from his formative years to becoming Chancellor and, finally, Warlord.  Originally printed just 10 years after the Nuremburg trials took place in 1945-1946, the book used the evidence provided during the trials to provide one of the first comprehensive, in-depth looks at how Hitler rose to power.  Though, as we know, Hitler was never prosecuted due to his suicide in 1945, (only seven months before the trials were set to begin) according to history.com, over 185 people were indicted for their crimes, providing countless first-hand testimony and evidence regarding the dictator's rise (and fall) for future use and study.

     Lodged in one of the pages was a brochure from Amazon.com.  We almost overlooked it, to be honest, as we sometimes see brochures stuck in our used books.  Just as we were about to toss it aside, however, we wondered…since when does Amazon, the internet conglomerate, print tri-fold brochures to advertise their bookselling services?  It seemed odd and antiquated.  Upon further examination, it became clear that the brochure was from the earliest days of Amazon, roughly 1994, (which, unbelievably, is already 25 years ago!) when the company was initially founded and the internet was just beginning to be thought of as a place to purchase items.  Let us explain further.

     Amazon, which is now the world’s largest online retailer, began when founder, Jeff Bezos, saw an opportunity to use the newly forming internet revolution to help sell a product.  He did some research, quit his job and decided that his company, Amazon, would sell books online and do so in a way that most had not thought of – the books could be purchased via the internet while one stayed in the comfort of their own home!  The brochure touts the ability to discover titles, “without leaving your home or office” while also offering the ability to purchase them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  While most of us take the ability to do these things for granted now, it appears that Amazon actually printed brochures and distributed them to help people understand what their newly-formed company does and how the process of online book buying works.  Can you imagine Amazon printing a brochure now to help spread the word that they exist?  I think it is safe to say that those days are gone for good.

     The “Hitler, A Study in Tyranny” book and early Amazon brochure find can both be yours for $4.99.  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 the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

Celebrity Sighting?

     Our “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor” seemed like a simple find at first, but then we took a closer look and wondered just who, exactly, left this discovery in the pages of a used book?  Could we have a celebrity connection, here?

     In our book, a nondescript paperback copy of novelist Sandra Brown’s “The Crush” published in 2002, we found an airline ticket stub.  While at first that may not seem very exciting, when we read the name of the ticket owner, we started to change our minds.  The ticket holder was named Cheryl Burke.  Sound familiar to you?  Probably because, for the past 21 years, Burke has made a name for herself as a professional ballroom and Latin dancer on the hit show, “Dancing with the Stars”.  A multiple season winner and touring dancer since she was 13, Burke is now 35 year-old national celebrity with her own line of clothing.  

     So, what makes us think that this ticket belonged to THE Cheryl Burke?  Well, to be truthful, we cannot be certain, as we are not privy to Burke’s every movements (much to her relief, we are sure).  Here is what we know:  the Cheryl Burke who used this ticket (we prefer to think of her as THE Cheryl Burke, but we will stick with just Cheryl Burke for a moment) traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina on her way to Phoenix, Arizona, on January 8 via American Airlines.  We know, we know - you are wondering the year and we are, too!  Unfortunately, airline tickets rarely state the year on them (don’t the airlines know that they are impeding our investigative progress?) and so we are left without an answer, there, too.

     If our past blogs/columns have given you any indication, you probably know that we love a good story and little speculation regarding our finds, so for our fun-filled purposes, we are going to assume that this ticket belonged to THE Cheryl Burke.  Why not, right?  Maybe she was traveling to a dance touring stop, an event for Dancing with the Stars, or perhaps even a QVC filming engagement for her new line of clothing.  It could be true.  Can any of us prove otherwise?  We think not.  Now, if for some reason, THE Cheryl Burke is reading this right now, (and why wouldn’t she be?) Cheryl, we are talking to you: give us a shout out at bayswaternh@gmail.com and let us know if this ticket is yours! Too many mysteries (too much fun) and not enough time, we say!

     The Sandra Brown book and ticket find can both be yours for a grand total of $2.99.  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 the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

Napoleon and the Fishing Fly

    This week’s “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor” is interesting and bizarre all at the same time!  We know, you are probably thinking that such a description fits many of our finds, but this week, our discovery and book combo really takes the cake.   

     First, we have to tell you about the book.  The keeper of our find is a 1911 printing of "Napoleon in Caricature: 1795-1821, vol. 1" and it provides countless satiric prints and caricatures of Napoleon Bonaparte, created during the years of 1795-1821.  These caricatures were made in the countries of France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Holland, Switzerland and Scandinavia and are combined with printed information regarding each from a series of different resources.  The popularity and power of the caricature rose sharply during the French Revolution (1789-1799) and Napoleon was known as the most “extensively caricatured man” that ever lived.  This 108 year-old book is a rare collection of history, told via caricature, from across many countries – all compiled into one resource!

  

   Ok, store that interesting info in your head and make room for more.  Our find tucked in the pages is a not a caricature, nor is it French – it is a jungle cock fishing fly.  Don’t know much about it?  Neither did we, but let us be the first to tell you that there is a lot to say!  The jungle cock is a male, Asiatic jungle fowl that boasts golden eyed, black-necked feathers deemed to be ideal for hooking salmon.  Now on the endangered species list, the jungle cock bird fishing flies are much more difficult to find, which makes our discovery even more interesting!

     Now, we do not know exactly what year this fishing fly is from, but our research suggests that they became popular in the 1930s.  If you recall from above, our book was written in 1911, so could the fishing fly (containing the feathers of the now endangered bird) be over 80 years old?  We cannot say.  What we can say, however, is that the jungle cock fishing interest turned into a phenomenon in the late 1930s and helped to create the Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock, a recognized organization of anglers that spans six states and multiple chapters today.  Never heard of it?  We hadn’t either, but a quick web search will educate you on their annual campfire held in Maryland every May, as well as their love for angling and deep desire to pass on the fly fishing tradition to future generations.  

     Not sure how the Napoleon caricatures and the endangered Asiatic fowl fishing fly is connected?  We have no idea, either, but at some point in the past 108 years, their paths crossed and became one.  While “Napoleon in Caricature” and the unique fishing fly are hard to find, both can be yours for the total price of $35.  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 the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

From London to Gettysburg

Our ‘Find of the Week” today takes us to both London (with kids) and to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (probably without kids) all in one swoop!

     Our discovery was folded into the pages of the 2001 Fodor travel book entitled, “Around London with Kids.”  The book contains 68 great suggestions of places to go and things to do while traveling around the area with little ones.  Additionally, it details the costs of admission and provides tips for children of each age group, as well as suggested restaurants to eat in.  If you are planning a trip to London with children, this is a great resource!  Heck, even if you are going without any children, this book could come in handy, as upon glancing through it, there are many destinations that look appealing to those of any age!

     

Our find, however, originated from a time and place that could not be more different than present-day London.  It was three pieces of stationery from “The Gettysburg Sutler,” a small business that sold Civil War artifacts in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from 1972-1985.  If you were an interested buyer at the time, this was the place to purchase Civil War weaponry, uniforms and period clothing.  Such historical items also included blankets, buckles, canteens, embroidered badges and tinware used for eating.  “The Gettysburg Sutler” was founded and run by a man named George Lower, known at the time to be one of the world’s largest Civil War artifact dealers and, possibly, a leading figure in the Civil War historical arena.

     On the stationery, in keeping with the Civil War theme, were two recipes for food items that we think sound very appropriate for the time period.  Handwritten on the papers were the directions and ingredients for Skillet Corn Bread and Sourdough Biscuits, all scribed by a woman named Carrie Colbert who hailed from Leesburg, Florida.

     We wondered: who was Carrie Colbert and what brought her from Florida to the Civil War artifact business in Pennsylvania over 30 years ago?  Was she just passing by?  Perhaps vacationing?  Maybe she was looking for the perfect Civil War era gift for her husband.  Or, just maybe, she was looking for a long-lost family artifact (passed down from generation to generation, of course) that her extensive research suggested could be housed by George Lower in Gettysburg.  You know us, there always has to be story!

     Whatever the case may be, the “Around London with Kids” Fodor guide can be yours for $2.99.  It comes with the historical stationery, of course, and we welcome your version of the story that brought Carrie Colbert all of the way there.  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 the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

Travelling in Style

     Dreaming of taking a luxurious vacation?  Well, this week’s “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor” will most likely top any thoughts you may have about how to travel in style.

     First, we have to tell you that the book our find was discovered in represents the absolute opposite of what a dream vacation consists of.  Entitled, “Insect Pests,” this colorful reference book serves as a guide to “more than 350 pests of home, garden, field and forest.”  Published by Golden Press in 1966, (the same publisher responsible for the beloved Little Golden Books) this handy-dandy pocket-sized book leaves no stone unturned (literally) when it comes to insects of any kind. 

  

   But, let’s not get bogged (or bugged) down in the creepy and crawly, we say.  Hidden away in the pages was our find - an official envelope from The Peninsula in Hong Kong, China, or “The Grande Dame of the Far East.”  What is The Peninsula, you may be asking?  Only one of THE most luxurious hotels in the world and the flagship of the hotel series!  Let us tell you why.

     Before you even arrive at The Peninsula in Hong Kong, the pampering begins.  Don’t want to take a taxi from the airport?  No problem!  The staff at the hotel will send one of their fleet of famous Rolls Royce vehicles for you, or you can fly in on one of their helicopters, as they have two helicopter pads on their roof!  Coming by boat?  Also not a problem.  The Peninsula is happy to give you a ride in their giant yacht.  Oh, and by the way, if you didn’t get to try all three modes of transportation on your way in, they are happy to give you tours of the area on any of them during your stay.

     Once checked in, you can settle into your room, adjust the lights, temperature, curtains and order room service all with their hi-tech iPad-like device that comes with every room.  While doing so, be sure, of course, to order their very own champagne, the Cuvee Peninsula.  Want to get out to eat, instead?  You can dine at one of the hotel’s seven restaurants, all specializing in cuisine from different cultures (French, Cantonese, Swiss, Japanese, etc.).  Yes, the hotel contains SEVEN separate restaurants within its giant structure!

     After dinner, stroll through one of The Peninsula’s many fashion arcades, as through the years, the famous hotel has housed international brands such as Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Cartier and Tiffany.  You could also take part in their Peninsula Academy by learning about Hong Kong’s lifestyle and culture through classes that teach everything from historic lantern-making to gourmet cooking.

     We could go on and on, here, but we think you get the picture.  Can’t afford to stay in The Peninsula in Hong Kong?  Fear not - the insect guide and official hotel envelope, while not quite the same, can be yours for $4.99.  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 the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

How-To

     Our most recent "Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor" is one giant "how-to" experience.  If you like to learn new things, (and if you have read any of our past blogs, you know we do) this post could very well be right up your alley.

     Our book that held the find is truly a discovery all of its own.  Published in 1950 and titled, "150 Ways to Play Solitaire," this 128 page small paperback details how to play the classic card game in - you guessed it- 150 different ways.  Ok, we need to take a pause, here, to say - seriously?  Who knew it was even possible to play solitaire anywhere near that many ways? 

     Upon looking at the table of contents, we found that the possibilities are categorized by ways to play using one, two, four, and multiple packs of cards.  To add to the charm, each game has been given a unique name.  You could try your hand at playing "Beleaguered Castle," (a one-pack solitaire game) "Miss Milligan," (a two-pack experience) or "Empress of India," (a multiple pack extravaganza) just to name a few choices.  If none of those struck your fancy, you could always give the "Idiot's Delight" or "Blondes and Brunettes" games a whirl.  Really - those are just the beginning of your solitaire options according to this 69 year-old gem.  

     As if the book, itself, was not enough, while flipping through the many pictures of card layouts, we found a paper from the Wild Salmon Seafood Market in Seattle, Washington.  Providing fish from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, the Wild Salmon Seafood Market ships their all-natural, wild salmon overnight across the world.  While detailing the many kinds of salmon that are caught in the Pacific, Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean, (Keta, Coho, Sockeye, King and Pink salmon, etc.) the Wild Salmon Seafood Market also provided a chart that guides those cooking the salmon at home.  From baking, broiling, grilling, barbequing, poaching, steaming, sauteing or microwaving, the well-known Seattle salmon provider walks you through what to cook the fish on, how long it needs to be on the heat and other incidental bits of info that could be very helpful.  If you remember nothing from this paragraph but one thing, remember this: in short, overcooking salmon is a common issue and, regardless of how you cook it, all salmon needs to be checked for doneness between 8-10 minutes.

     So...150 ways to play solitaire games with creative names, salmon types from the Pacific and how to cook the perfect fish in any way imaginable...yes, that about covers it for this week's Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor.  We promised a "how-to" experience when you first began reading this and we think we've delivered.  As always, however, we have only touched on the highlights from the book and the find.  To gain the full experience and learn more, "150 Ways to Play Solitaire" and the Wild Salmon Seafood Market's Guide to Salmon can be yours, together, for the grand total of $4.99.  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 the store in Center Harbor and check out the used book floor for yourself!

Dogs, Cats & Hope For the Future

     Our latest "find of the week on the used book floor" was all about solitude - until it became about saving the lives of millions of animals and humans who have cancer.  Tucked into a 1988 paperback copy of the classic self-help book, "Solitude," by Anthony Storr, was a colorful map of the Colorado State University campus.  It shows all of the buildings and roads on the campus, along with a key that helps to find them.

     This could have been the map for a prospective college student to use during a visit to the campus, right?  At first, we thought so, too, but our eyes were then drawn to the word "vet" written in pencil with a question mark next to it.  We wondered what that meant, so we did a little research and discovered that while Colorado State University is known as an institution that provides a college education, it also contains the Flint Animal Cancer Center, a cutting edge facility that treats cancer in companion animals.  Pioneers in what is known as Comparative Oncology, the CSU Flint Animal Cancer Center draws conclusions between the findings discovered in treating cancer in companion animals and the treatments that are similarly used in humans suffering with cancer, as well.  In other words, The Flint Animal Cancer Center treats animals and translates their discoveries to solutions for people.

     How prevalent is cancer in dogs in cats?  We were wondering, too.  According to the National Cancer Institute, out of the 65 million dogs and 32 million cats in the United States, 6 million new cancer diagnoses are made for each - 12 million diagnoses - each year.  Because it has been discovered that dogs and humans contain many similar genes that are present in cancer, Comparative Oncology has led to the creation and study of the canine genome sequence for human cancer research.  Researchers also hypothesize that in addition to genetic connections, the fact that humans and their cats/dogs share similar water, air and environments create a viable connection for research, as well.

     Upon looking over Colorado State University's website for the Flint Animal Cancer Center, we quickly got swept up in their many stories of hope (complete with adorable pictures) surrounding animals such as Gouda, the cat who is recovering after treatment from nasal cancer, and Benson, the dog who is currently cancer-free after battling lymphoma.  We could not help but wonder (a common occurrence for us when we discover finds in our used books) if the person who left the map of CSU behind in the book was seeking cancer treatments for their pet, also.  We’ll most likely never know, so, to ease our hearts, we'll assume that their pet could very well be Gouda, Benson, or any of the other success stories we read on their website. 

     The copy of “Solitude” can be yours for the price of $4.99 (complete with the map that got us started on this quest of learning to begin with). 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!

The Earliest Wine

     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!

The Kept Flower

When is the last time you put aside an item in a safe place that held a special meaning to you?  We are all known to tuck away items from time to time as keepsakes and this week's Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor was just such a discovery.   

     Our find was hidden in a copy of an 11^th edition "Robert's Rules of Order” book published in 2011.  This timeless set of rules for conduct at meetings was first created in 1875 when Henry Martyn Robert, an engineering officer in the Army, was asked to preside over a meeting being held in his town.  He quickly realized that he did not know how.  After failing miserably and feeling embarrassed, Robert vowed never to attend or preside over another meeting until he had researched parliamentary law.  Upon completion of his research, he created the now well-known "Robert's Rules of Order" guide that has been updated eleven times to show the progress in parliamentary laws and procedure. You are probably well acquainted with Robert's Rules and may not have even realized that you have been following them, or attending meetings where others are.  If you are familiar with a call to order, accepting minutes of a previous meeting or making a motion, you have been introduced to Robert's Rules of Order.

    When we first saw an envelope (our find) tucked into the procedural book, we have to admit, we thought it might turn out to be a copy of minutes from a meeting, or perhaps even the notes of a nervous first-timer looking to read up on how one presides over such an event.  Alas, however, we could not have been more wrong.  Inside the envelope was what appeared to be a dried rose and a note that says "Christine, Christmas 1972" alongside it.  Flowers tend to tell a tale, be it one of joy, congratulations, thinking of you, sorrow, or holiday remembrance.  As we held it up, we could not help but wonder what story the rose took part in 46 years ago.  This flower was important enough for its recipient to tuck it into an envelope with a note, press it, and hang onto it for decades.  We certainly hope that the rose was one denoting happy times, but it is impossible to tell. 

     Does this discovery make you wonder where your keepsakes are that you once put in a "safe place" and how long they have been there?  Something tells us that the owner of this special item never thought it would end up on the shelves of a used book floor in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire just shy of 50 years later. 

     “Robert's Rules of Order” can be yours for the price of $4.99 and the 46 year-old find is yours, as well.  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!

Drama for Dinner

     We don’t know about you, but sometimes we find that the quest of what to make for dinner each night is never-ending.  Our latest “Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor” deals with just that question, as the individual who left the discovery behind gave us a peek into his/her decision making process.

     The book, or keeper of our find, is a 2002 autographed copy of “No Certain Rest,” written by Jim Lehrer.  If that name sounds familiar, it is most likely because Lehrer, now 84, held the position of PBS NEWSHOUR anchor (or co-anchor) for 36 years.  Since stepping down from his regular anchoring duties in 2011, Lehrer is still involved in the editorial direction of the show and sometimes moderates the weekly analysis programs that air on Friday evenings.  In addition, he has written 20 novels, including “No Certain Rest”.

    Though Lehrer’s life and journalism experience could provide an interesting blog by itself, our discovery in the pages of his book is actually the lead story.  On the back of an e-ticket printout was a hand written list entitled, “What Should I Make for Dinner?”  While many of us have (most likely) experienced a back and forth decision making process in our head to solve this quandary, the author of the note decided to hash it out on paper (complete with the inquisitive title).  Below the above listed title, he/she wrote down the following options: Didi’s zucchini casserole, Lara’s mac and cheese, Mom’s couscous, and Lara’s broccoli pasta.  Underneath a couple of the menu ideas were a few ingredients, or perhaps even foods that could go along with the main course, if selected.

     Tough choices, right?  After all, how does one choose between Mom’s, Didi’s, or Lara’s culinary repertoire?  I mean, does selecting one over another suggest favoritism to one particular person?  What if Mom is not speaking to Didi, who is currently in the middle of a tiff with Lara?  This is where a simple dish of zucchini casserole, macaroni and cheese, couscous, or broccoli salad could turn into a larger-scale, food-related feud.  Everyone has a family holiday/dinner story that is best not recalled and choosing one of the above listed options could lead towards a reenactment of such a catastrophe.

     Fear not, for we know what the author of the note should do - make his/her own dish!  This recipe can forever be known as _________ (enter name here, i.e. Lauren’s, Bobby’s, Olivia’s, etc.) _____________ (enter dish name here, i.e. spaghetti pie, fettuccine alfredo, chicken paprika, etc.).  By doing so, not only will he/she alleviate any possible family/friend drama, but the dish could someday be listed with his/her name on a future “What Should I Have for Dinner?” problem-solving session experienced by another poor soul.  It is a vicious circle, this issue of continuously needing to make dinner, we say.

     The autographed copy of “No Certain Rest” (including the dinner question list) can be yours for the price of $10.00.  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!

X Marks the Spot

     The phrase "X marks the spot" sounds like something you would hear in an action-packed treasure hunting movie, but alas, here at Bayswater Books, our most recent "Find of the Week on the Used Book Floor" truly gives real-life meaning to the cliche.  What do we mean? Read on, friends, read on.

     The keeper of our find, our book, was a 1998 copy of "Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion" and it provides an inside look at anything and everything there is to know about Law & Order, the classic American police-procedural and legal drama TV series that ran from 1990-2010.  You know the show, right?  Come on, admit it, you might have even seen a few re-runs recently on TNT during a sleepless night or two.  Well, "Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion" tells you all about the cast, plots, sets, camaraderie, censorship, and so much more that took place behind the scenes.  If you have seen one or more of the 456 episodes, (20 years worth) this book will give you a peek into the sides of Law & Order that we never saw, but wish we had.  

     Inside the book is where the "x marks the spot” part fun comes in.  Nestled among the pages of "Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion" was a 1961 map - yes, a map- of Longs Peak in Colorado, or the Northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.  As we opened the 57 year-old map, we saw a small red X on the part of the map that is labeled Mount Lady Washington.  This is “x marks the spot” in real life!  No, New Hampshire readers, this mountain is not a relative of the Mt. Washington that looms above New England, but it does sit 13,281 feet high and takes approximately 8-10 hours to scale.  While it can be climbed year round, Mount Lady Washington requires a great deal of boulder scrambling and can cause altitude sickness, hypothermia and dehydration.  In short, it is not a day climb for the family.

     But, let’s get back to the exciting mark on the map.  What could the red X mean?  Could there be treasure buried there?  Maybe it is (or was) the spot of a clandestine meeting for a group of questionable criminals, or perhaps it was simply a mountain that the map owner had yet to climb.  We are not fond of the last idea, as it lacks imagination and drama, so we are throwing in our lot with the buried treasure or clandestine meeting conclusions.  Of course, our imaginations could be running away with us, but that is unlikely to happen (wink, wink).

     “Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion” can be yours for the price of $4.99 and the map is yours, as well (in case you want to try your hand at treasure hunting in Colorado).  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!

The Letter

     Once in a great while, we are lucky enough to find a letter that someone has left behind in a used book. This week was one of those fortunate occasions and we are even more excited because the author of the letter and her husband were national figures during the 1960s. What are the chances?


     Hidden away in the pages of a signed 1962 copy of Louis Untermeyer's compilation of selected poems entitled, "Long Feud," was a letter written 56 years ago by Untermeyer's wife at the time, Bryna Untermeyer, to the owner of a small country book store in Lacona, New York. A former fiction editor for Seventeen magazine, (which, believe it or not, has been in existence since 1944) Bryna thanks the owner of the small bookstore for sending her a book of essays and states that because she is fortunate enough to be able to borrow from the Library of Congress, she will be seeking out more books by the same author. Upon researching, we found that, for the most part, individuals are not allowed to borrow from the Library of Congress, so Bryna must have gained special access through her position or that of her husband, Louis. Once you read more about him, you may understand why.


 

   Louis Untermeyer, the author of the book, was even more well-known during his time than Bryna. Born in 1885, Louis left his father's jewelry business behind in 1902 to pursue his passion of becoming a writer. His leap of faith and perseverance paid off, as he eventually taught at several universities and was named poetry consultant to the Library of Congress from 1991-1993. That position later became known as the poet laureate of the United States. Louis' anthologies were widely used in colleges across the United States and are even said to have helped to establish the reputation of famed poet, Robert Frost.


     Louis chose to thank the owner of the bookshop in New York by sending him an autographed copy of his book, "Long Feud" - the very same book that we found here with his wife's letter hidden away in it. If you are following us, all of this means that we found a signed copy of a 1962 poetry collection from the then-poet laureate of the United States, complete with a letter from his wife! How great is that? You never know where a letter might lead you...


     The autographed copy of “Long Feud” (with the letter included) is available for $20.00 here at Bayswater. 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!