Rulon Miller Books has published their Catalogue 169. There is no further title, but if there were, a miscellany would have been appropriate. There is a mix of all sorts of material, different subjects and different forms of paper. Whatever you collect, there's a good chance you'll find it here. We will proceed to a few examples of the things you will see.
We begin with a large letter sheet, meant for writing. It is headed Christmas Time. Specimen of Handwriting. The blank sheet has sea vignettes around the edges, including an English privateer capturing a frigate, a sailor leaving and returning home, and two of Anne Thornton, “Ann Thornton the Female Sailor Travelling to America,” and “Ann Thornton the Female Sailor Going Aloft.” Somewhat reminiscent of Deborah Sampson, the lady who dressed as a man to serve in the Continental Army, Anne Jane Thornton dressed as a man so she could serve as a seaman on a ship traveling from Ireland to New York. She had fallen in love with an Englishman at the age of 13, but when he left to join his father in New York, she decided to follow him. She dressed as a boy to secure passage, and once arriving, proceeded to the house of the Englishman's father, only to hear on arrival that the man had died. She was stranded in New York, so she took jobs on ships, notably as a cook. In time, she signed on to a ship going to London in 1835, three years after she departed from home. However, this time she was discovered and mistreated by the crew, but later welcomed by the Mayor of London before returning to her father's house in Donegal. Item 85. The sheet is undated but circa mid-19th century. Priced at $1,750.
Wilhelm Heine was born in Dresden, but was on the losing side of the Revolutions of 1848 in today's Germany and fled to the United States. He had studied art extensively in Europe prior to the revolution, so when he moved to New York, he opened an art studio. A few years later, he applied for the job of artist on Commodore Matthew Perry's expedition to Japan. He was selected. He would publish a few books about the mission, this being one, Graphic Scenes in the Japan Expedition... released in 1856. Heine created numerous illustrations of Japan during the mission that opened the isolationist nation to trade with the West. Four hundred of his sketches made it into the official report, but this book contains just nine, his color illustrations plus a portrait of Perry taken from a daguerreotype by Eliphalet Brown, Jr. They provide one of the best looks at Japan before it was changed by foreign influences. Item 58. $17,500.
Next we have a “noted American rarity,” a dictionary for young people. The title is, A School Dictionary, Being a Compendium of the Latest and most Improved Dictionaries. Comprising an Easy and Concise Method of teaching Children the true meaning and pronunciation of the most useful words in the English Language, not attainable by common school books, published around 1796-98. This is the first edition of the first English dictionary compiled by an American. Along with standard dictionary material, this one provides general rules and guides to help children learn the meaning and pronunciation of words. It is also designed to teach spelling. The name of the author of this book is familiar to a lexicographer – Samuel Johnson. However, it was not the Samuel Johnson you know, the one who compiled the first true English dictionary and had his biography written by James Boswell. This is Samuel Johnson, Jr., but he is not the son of the better known namesake either. Nevertheless, they were related, this Samuel Johnson being the great grand-nephew of the other one. The dictionary is very rare with only about four copies known. Item 76. $25,000.
This book is the seminal text of the Quaker faith, sometimes referred to as “the Quaker Bible.” It explained the tenets of the faith and the inner light that people have to see the truths of divine revelation. With this personal inner light, there is no need for distinctive religious rites or even pastors, as meetings among equal congregants is sufficient. The title is, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, as the same is held forth, and Preached by the People, Called in Scorn, Quakers... published in 1729. This edition might not seem to be of much importance as it is only a sixth edition, but it was the first American edition. It was one of the first books printed in Rhode Island. The printer was James Franklin, brother of printer, great statesman and all around polymath Benjamin Franklin. Ben learned the trade from his older brother, though he considered James to be too harsh and demanding toward his own brother and moved from Newport to Philadelphia, where he set up his own printing business. Item 5. $2,500.
Labor unrest in the mines of Colorado at the turn of the century led to numerous strikes, lawlessness and violence. Most often, the state government sided with the mine companies and supplied troops to help quell the strikes. This is an account of one of those strikes, The Cripple Creek Strike 1903-1904. The author was Mrs. Emma F. Langdon, and she claimed this to be a disinterested account, though her husband was a strong supporter of the union. He was a linotype operator for the local paper and was imprisoned for articles that took the union side. Mrs. Langdon's book was dedicated to the Western Federation of Miners, “who have made a lawful, law-abiding manly fight against the lawless, corrupt and un-American methods of those against whom they have a grievance.” She described the state government as “a military oligarchy.” Martial law was declared by the Governor and deaths reached double-figures before the union was put down. Item 82. $1,000.
Rulon-Miller Books may be reached at 651-290-0700 or rulon@rulon.com. Their website is www.rulon.com.
