Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - March - 2006 Issue
African Americana from Between The Covers Rare Books
An odd combination of etiquette and children's stories
Item 23 is dubious as a piece of African Americana, but it is an unusual piece. The title is Black Mammy, a Song of the Sunny South, and what is unusual is this atrocity of "Black" dialect poetry by a white man is a very early Wyoming imprint. This copy is a second illustrated edition from 1886 of William Visscher's book, and comes with the author's inscription, "with the compliments of the fellow who 'writ' it." William Lightfoot Visscher is better known for his "History of the Pony Express," presumably written in real English. $175.
Item 80 is a broadsheet recruitment call to black men, issued in 1863. This post-Emancipation plea points out, "At the very commencement of the struggle you eagerly offered your services. They were rejected for reasons which, whether well or ill founded, were all powerful at the time. Those reasons exist no longer..." $2,950.
Item 45 is an odd combination. It is two volumes in one. First, there is The National Capital Code of Etiquette by Edward S. Green. This was designed to instruct the black community of Washington in proper etiquette. The second title is Silas X. Floyd's Short Stories for Colored People. These are children's stories. Why these two disparate subjects were combined in one book is a mystery. $450.
Between The Covers Rare Books may be found online at www.betweenthecovers.com, phone number 856-665-2284.
