Some strange occurrences are recounted in Strange news from Lemaster in Herefordshire, being a true narrative...of a most strange and prodigious opening of the earth in divers places thereabouts. Also, a true relation of several wonderful sights, viz. A hand, an arm and shoulder of the bigness of mans...seen to arise out of the earth and ascend up to the skyes. Beware of anyone who uses the word "true" multiple times in a title. This 1679 pamphlet tells of unusual events witnessed by a Mr. Barnes. Various large limbs, arms and shoulders and such, arose from openings in the ground, as did a flying blue globe and blood-colored saddles, which then ascended to the sky. There was also a loud noise, "as if canons had been discharged," which others in the vicinity also heard. And, for "whoever doubts the truth of this relation," Mr. Barnes offered to show them a copy of a letter he sent to his brother in London recounting these mysterious events. Proof enough for me. One of the rare remaining copies of the account of this "miraculous accident" is offered as item 57. L1,600 (US $2,940).
Item 44 is a 1654 book of proverbs from Thomas Drake, Bibliotheca scholastica instructissima. Or, a treasury of ancient adagies and sententious proverbs... Some of these are still familiar today: "when the cat is away, the mice play;" "it is better late than never;" and "Rome was not built in a day." But how about "an empty purse maketh the face full of wrinkles?" Here is one I can attest to: "the dogge waggest his taile, not for you, but for your bread." I will make no comments on "where there are women, there is much tatling." And what about this one: "a poore mans head is full of bees?" What does that mean? Did poor men, like hippies, wear flowers in their hair? I was stumped, but if you can believe everything you find on Google (and certainly you cannot), it means scatterbrained or dreamy, a precursor to the expression "bees in your bonnet." L400 (US $734).
From the "better late than never" category, here's a funeral invitation for John Moor. Mr. Moor's funeral took place on June 25, 1712. This was a fill-in form, name, date, and location to be entered as required. The invitation begins, "You are desired to Accompany the Corps of _____ with the name handwritten in the blank space. The invitation includes pictures of a skull, crossbones, and skeleton, along with the motto "Remember to Die." I'm sure I will remember, but hopefully not to soon. Item 56. L1,800 (US $3,311).
Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - June - 2005 Issue
Intriguing Old English Books From Bernard Shapero Rare Books
Siamese Twins Elisa and Mary Chulkhurst.
