How Far Back?

In light of the celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival, it seems only appropriate to tell you about a really cool donation the Friends of Reston Regional Library received.  Both items are for sale this spring.

We have two huge books of bound newspapers.  They are described this way in our TOPLIST:

Item 1:
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

weekly newspaper publ in New York / 51 weekly issues spanning 7 Jan 1860 - 29 Dec 1860 /
issue for 10 Nov 1860 (probable Presidential election results) was never bound in the volume /
custom binding in full leather has separated from the huge oversize text block / gilt label pasted
on spine / half of front endpaper is missing, half of back endpaper is also missing / some
damaged pages (with tears and signs of water damage at the page corners) appear to have
been bound in as is by the owner / free of internal marks, remarkably free of foxing for its age /
incredible reading copy for history buffs or for a library collection

Item 2:
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper / Ballou's

Pictorial / New York Illustrated News
collection of three different US weekly newspapers spanning 1856-1861 / Leslie 26 issues 1858-
1859 / Ballou 11 issues 1856 / New York 6 issues 1860-1861 / huge oversize bound volume in
marbled boards with leather spine / gilt label pasted on spine / small estate seller's label on front
endpaper / an owner's name in script on front endpaper / some issues were not complete when
bound / some pages with tears appear to have been bound in as is by the owner / perfect
companion reading copy to the 1860 Leslie volume above, with fantastic full-page size
illustrations

Now you're asking -- what the heck does this have to do with the Cherry Blossom Festival?  Well, Item one has some amazing illustrations in it of the first official delegation to the US from Japan, in 1860.  Here is a photo of  saddle they brought as a gift (Click on the photo to see it closely):

Item 1 also includes this illustration of a politician that should be familiar to you from history. At this point, he was only a "wanna-be" president.

Don't you wish you could read the whole story illustrated by these illustrations on the left page? The page on the right shows Cyrus Field, the man who laid the first transatlantic cable, and a story about the cable itself.

This is great stuff folks - history buffs, genealogy gurus (just imagine the names and dates!), collectors, writers...

Let us know if you're interested!  E-mail or call us at 703-829-5467.

Good Taste is Always In Fashion

Or should that be, good fashion is always in good taste?

The Friends of Reston Regional Library can confirm the truth of both statements using a recent donation.  A generous Friend, like you, gave our Friends group the privilege of marketing her collection of old fashion magazines.

Yes, old.  REALLY old. As in 1909.  These magazines, on their own, aren't beautiful, and aren't in perfect shape. But WOWZA, the fashions, the artwork, and the glimpse of yesterday revealed in these is priceless.

These are a great find for a fashion design student or professional, an artist, a genealogist, or an author trying to get a sense of time and place.

The magazines are fragile, so they are difficult for us to display and you won't see much of them at the Semi Annual Book Sale**. If you would like to see them, please CALL US at 703-829-5467 to make an appointment to see them or EMAIL US. Here's just a taste:

**Semi-Annual Book Sale starts April 6 at 5:00 pm with Friends Night (membership available for purchase that evening).  General Public enthusiastically welcomed April 7-10.  See sidebar for hours.

Children/YA Sale Begins Today

Here's the view from the pre-sale trenches.  As you can see, we have quantity and quality, awaiting your purchasing pleasure!

The Childrens and Young Adults Sale begins today, Friday March 18, at 10 a.m.  Hurry in, but leave your scanner at home, please!

and here are the leprechauns who made it happen.

Thank you, Ladies!