AE Monthly

Article Archives Search

AE Reviews


Yeoman's In The Fork's Second Catalogue Offers a Variety of Material - By Michael Stillman The second catalogue from Yeoman's in the Fork. Yeoman's in the Fork, the Tennessee based bookseller, has just released their Catalog Two. This follows up, quite naturally, their first catalogue, released earlier this year. And, we are happy to report that Yeoman's found their first catalogue to be a greater success than anticipated. The printed catalogue, like traditional bookselling, has been under pressure in recent years, as how people read and buy books has changed with shifting technology. Obviously, we are not going back, and books will be sold electronically from now until such time as an even more advanced technology replaces it. Nevertheless, it is welcome to see that traditional bookselling does retain a place in the mix, and we are hopeful printed catalogues, and other traditional forms of marketing, will retain that seat at the table for a long time to come. Now, here are a few of the items Yeoman's is offering in their latest presentation. We will start with a very early archeological work: Stonehenge, A Temple Restor'd to the British Druids. This is a 1740 first edition of the report written by William Stukeley. Stukeley was one of the earliest of what we now call archeologists, as he tried to figure out what these remnants represented. He correctly assessed that they were ancient, though not nearly as old as we now know them to be, and didn't quite get the nature of the builders nor their scientific knowledge right, but still considering the information and tools available to him at the time, he certainly earned his reputation as one of the most important pre-archeologists. Item 2436. Priced at $5,500. You will find even more accounts of times long ago in this book: Jerusalem Bible. The Jerusalem Bible is a Catholic translation introduced to the English-speaking world in 1966 (this is a 1966 edition). Among the translators was J.R.R. Tolkien. This copy is distinguished by a portrait of Pope John Paul II painted on the volume's fore-edge. The artist was Melody Krafft. We are unsure of the painting's date though it would be later as John Paul was not elevated to the papacy until 1978. Item 2588. $750.
Yeoman's In The Fork's Second Catalogue Offers a Variety of Material - By Michael Stillman Mark Twain's autobiography. Item 3413 is a two-volume set of Mark Twain's Autobiography. Twain wasn't around to celebrate the 1924 publication, having died 14 years earlier. He waited to protect the "guilty." Though parts had been published serially prior to Twain's death, this was to most people a much welcome new book from America's most popular author. $1,500. Here is a man who, like Twain, is one of the most popular American figures of that turn of the century era, and yet, they were anything but friendly at the time. Theodore Roosevelt was America's leading politician, as Twain was its leading author, and they would have shared many views on the issues of the day. However, there was one that drove an enormous wedge, as it was just about the biggest issue of the day in Twain's view. That was imperialism, and while Roosevelt thought using American military power would make the world a better place, Twain thought it a gross violation of the rights of other peoples. Twain described Roosevelt as a "crazy," while Roosevelt thought Twain an "idiot." Item 2451 is Roosevelt's African Game Trails, a signed, limited edition published in 1910. Following his term as President, Roosevelt headed off on some strenuous adventures, including the one herein described hunting big game in Africa, perhaps reinforcing Twain's view of his sanity. An extreme adventure in South America a few years later would badly injure Roosevelt's health and lead to his early demise. $9,500. Item 3026 is The Autobiography of a President who was a bit calmer than Roosevelt. This is a 1929 signed limited edition of the autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. It is unlikely Roosevelt would have appreciated Coolidge much more than he did Twain, though for different reasons. It is amazing that "Silent Cal" was able to come up with enough material to fill a book, he being a man of few words. Coolidge could easily have won reelection had he chosen to run in 1928, but he did not, one of the wisest political decisions ever made. $1,500. Here is another presidential biography, though this president had to have another write it. He didn't survive long enough to look back on his presidency. Zachary Taylor could have taught today's politicians a few things about running for office. He said nothing, took no stands, and let his opponent antagonize people on both sides of the issues. By not staking out positions, it also freed Taylor to do as he saw fit once elected. He might have been a great president, but unfortunately, he died barely a year in office, leaving Millard Fillmore to mess up the remainder of his term. This 1951 biography, Zachary Taylor: Soldier in the White House, was written by Holman Hamilton. Item 3109. $65. Yeoman's in the Fork may be reached at 877-936-6261 or info@yeomansinthefork.com. Their website is found at www.yeomansinthefork.com.

Yeoman's In The Fork's Second Catalogue Offers a Variety of Material

- By Michael Stillman

The second catalogue from Yeoman's in the Fork.

Yeoman's in the Fork, the Tennessee based bookseller, has just released their Catalog Two. This follows up, quite naturally, their first catalogue, released earlier this year. And, we are happy to report that Yeoman's found their first catalogue to be a greater success than anticipated. The printed catalogue, like traditional bookselling, has been under pressure in recent years, as how people read and buy books has changed with shifting technology. Obviously, we are not going back, and books will be sold electronically from now until such time as an even more advanced technology replaces it. Nevertheless, it is welcome to see that traditional bookselling does retain a place in the mix, and we are hopeful printed catalogues, and other traditional forms of marketing, will retain that seat at the table for a long time to come. Now, here are a few of the items Yeoman's is offering in their latest presentation.

We will start with a very early archeological work: Stonehenge, A Temple Restor'd to the British Druids. This is a 1740 first edition of the report written by William Stukeley. Stukeley was one of the earliest of what we now call archeologists, as he tried to figure out what these remnants represented. He correctly assessed that they were ancient, though not nearly as old as we now know them to be, and didn't quite get the nature of the builders nor their scientific knowledge right, but still considering the information and tools available to him at the time, he certainly earned his reputation as one of the most important pre-archeologists. Item 2436. Priced at $5,500.

You will find even more accounts of times long ago in this book: Jerusalem Bible. The Jerusalem Bible is a Catholic translation introduced to the English-speaking world in 1966 (this is a 1966 edition). Among the translators was J.R.R. Tolkien. This copy is distinguished by a portrait of Pope John Paul II painted on the volume's fore-edge. The artist was Melody Krafft. We are unsure of the painting's date though it would be later as John Paul was not elevated to the papacy until 1978. Item 2588. $750.

Yeoman's In The Fork's Second Catalogue Offers a Variety of Material

- By Michael Stillman

Mark Twain's autobiography.

Item 3413 is a two-volume set of Mark Twain's Autobiography. Twain wasn't around to celebrate the 1924 publication, having died 14 years earlier. He waited to protect the "guilty." Though parts had been published serially prior to Twain's death, this was to most people a much welcome new book from America's most popular author. $1,500.

Here is a man who, like Twain, is one of the most popular American figures of that turn of the century era, and yet, they were anything but friendly at the time. Theodore Roosevelt was America's leading politician, as Twain was its leading author, and they would have shared many views on the issues of the day. However, there was one that drove an enormous wedge, as it was just about the biggest issue of the day in Twain's view. That was imperialism, and while Roosevelt thought using American military power would make the world a better place, Twain thought it a gross violation of the rights of other peoples. Twain described Roosevelt as a "crazy," while Roosevelt thought Twain an "idiot." Item 2451 is Roosevelt's African Game Trails, a signed, limited edition published in 1910. Following his term as President, Roosevelt headed off on some strenuous adventures, including the one herein described hunting big game in Africa, perhaps reinforcing Twain's view of his sanity. An extreme adventure in South America a few years later would badly injure Roosevelt's health and lead to his early demise. $9,500.

Item 3026 is The Autobiography of a President who was a bit calmer than Roosevelt. This is a 1929 signed limited edition of the autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. It is unlikely Roosevelt would have appreciated Coolidge much more than he did Twain, though for different reasons. It is amazing that "Silent Cal" was able to come up with enough material to fill a book, he being a man of few words. Coolidge could easily have won reelection had he chosen to run in 1928, but he did not, one of the wisest political decisions ever made. $1,500.

Here is another presidential biography, though this president had to have another write it. He didn't survive long enough to look back on his presidency. Zachary Taylor could have taught today's politicians a few things about running for office. He said nothing, took no stands, and let his opponent antagonize people on both sides of the issues. By not staking out positions, it also freed Taylor to do as he saw fit once elected. He might have been a great president, but unfortunately, he died barely a year in office, leaving Millard Fillmore to mess up the remainder of his term. This 1951 biography, Zachary Taylor: Soldier in the White House, was written by Holman Hamilton. Item 3109. $65.

Yeoman's in the Fork may be reached at 877-936-6261 or info@yeomansinthefork.com. Their website is found at