Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - August - 2010 Issue
Say "Ephemera!" from Marc Selvaggio, Bookseller
The White Hussars.
The Story of Northcrest or Northcrest, Then and Now, is a story about Dietrich & Leistner's circa 1910 housing development in Stockton, California. The developers made sure this would be a nice place by keeping undesirables out - "Deeds and contracts provide that no persons of unassimilable birth or descent shall be allowed to occupy property in Northcrest. Think this over." One wonders if these kept-out "unassimilibles" were then pilloried for failing to assimilate. Item 111. $35.
Before there was McDonalds there was White Castle. White Castle pioneered the concept of cheap, fast, puny, mediocre hamburgers, but was overrun by later arrivals. Still, the chain has managed to survive into the present, and Selvaggio tells us they still have 421 locations. This pamphlet encourages us to 'Buy 'em by the "Sack,"' and considering their size, that was a necessity if you didn't want to walk away from your meal hungry. This booklet is die-cut into the shape of one of their "castles," and they must have printed a lot of them since it claims to be a 27th printing. It goes back to 1938 and includes a list of locations. Item 82. $45.
From White Castles we go to The White Hussars - A Singing Band. This Chautauqua circuit band was evidently quite popular with the locals, and their white outfits made an impressive, if somewhat silly, appearance. Item 3. $60.
Marc Selvaggio, Bookseller, may be reached at 800-356-2199 or dsbooks@comcast.net.
