Here is another first of sorts. Item 153 is an 1858 publication of Clement Moore's The Night Before Christmas. It was not the first publication of the tale, but the first one to use that title by which the story is known today. Previously, it appeared under the title A Visit from St. Nicholas. $2,750.

 

Item 224 is one of the stranger examples of anthropomorphic stories. The title is Von Mauschen und Mettwurstchen (Mousie and the Sausage) by Elsa Eisgruber, published in 1924. As Aleph-Bet describes it, "the curious story tells the saga of a mouse and a sausage who live together and what happens when the mouse accidently gets cooked trying to make a special treat for the sausage." Curioser and curiouser. $450.

 

If humanizing a sausage sounds weird, this one sounds just plain disgusting:  Mr. North's Maggot. Actually, it's not so revolting as it sounds. A "maggot" not only is the word for those sickening fly grubs found around decaying remains, but is also the name for an English dance. "Maggot" in archaic times was used to mean a whim, and "maggots" are whimsical dances. They are kind of free form, usually referred to as somebody or other's maggot, as each one is individual. That explains this maggot belonging to Mr. North, and undoubtedly he preferred having this type of maggot to one of the other kind. Item 172. $250.

 

Item 130 is original artwork for the enormously popular Uncle Wiggly comic strip circa 1920. The characters and stories for the Uncle Wiggly comics and books were created by Howard Garis, though the artwork here offered was drawn by Lansing Campbell. Uncle Wiggly was an elderly rabbit who always carried a cane, and who always managed to wiggle his way out of various difficult situations, usually of his own making. $600.

 

Aleph-Bet Books may be reached at 914-764-7410 or Helen@alephbet.com. Their website is found at www.alephbet.com.