Early 20th Century Thoughts on Race in the United States--DuBois in The Souls of Black Folk

Was he ahead of his time? Was he prescient? Was he a prophet? Certainly, he was brilliant, and his scintillating writing continues to grab a reader's attention to this day.

Some of us yet hope, that as the generations slide by with the years, that some of the old and rigid insensitive attitudes will fade into distant memory. Even as the idea of a flat earth has fallen from favor and use (if not into complete obscurity), so too may the notions that race or skin color in any way indicate worth, ability or even a difference.

Here are a few notable W.E.B. Du Bois quotes:

“I believe that all men, black, brown, and white, are brothers.”

“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.”

“What do nations care about the cost of war, if by spending a few hundred millions in steel and gunpowder they can gain a thousand millions in diamonds and cocoa?”

“Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”
~ Three African-American Classics: up from Slavery, the Souls of Black Folk and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Here's to hoping the people of the world can rise above superficial differences to a more united future. United We Stand, and all that good stuff.

We're excited to offer this handsome first edition of The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois, in addition to other books of his writings.

A Thousand Species of Shells, by Yoichiro Hirase--Japanese Woodblock Prints

This week we researched and listed a unique and delightful book of hand-colored Japanese woodblock prints:

A Thousand Species of Shells - Kai Chigusa by Yoichiro Hirase 

(4 Volumes of Japanese Woodblock Prints of Seashells)

Created by a collector, dealer and scholar of Malacology--Hirase Yoichiro (1859-1925)--to fill an dearth of Japanese books on seashells, these four volumes each contain 100 hand-colored illustrations of seashells. According to the preface, his objective was to create a reference that could be used by artists as well as scientists.

Each volume contains twenty 2-page traditional Japanese prints, featuring 100 images of Japanese shells. This rare, complete set is bound in a traditional Japanese accordion fold style, with solid boards on top and bottom, opening from left-to-right with Japanese and Latin text.

From Wikipedia: "Woodblock printing in Japan is a technique...widely adopted in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). Although similar to woodcut in Western printmaking in some regards, the moku-hanga technique differs in that it uses water-based inks—as opposed to western woodcut, which often uses oil-based inks. The Japanese water-based inks provide a wide range of vivid colors, glazes, and transparency."

Science History and a Work of Art - Featured Books

(A leading work of science in the 1700s, and a handsome example of the book as a work of art.)

Ferguson's Astronomy - A Resource And A Work of Art

In the 21st century, we take reading, writing and publishing for granted, but truth be told, it is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Writing and publishing in the 1700s was a very different experience from anything 21st, or even 20th century. All writing was done with a pen and ink, and printing was laborious.

A shop clerk in a small town might be able to read and write, but the cost of pen, paper, and ink was prohibitive. The average person didn't write much, and a single shelf of books was a prized possession. Books were written in long hand on sheets of paper, a craft generally reserved for the elite academic and idle rich, with some exceptions for some middle class who had the leisure time and money to indulge in the luxury. A tome such as this week's feature was an extravagant affair.

Astronomy: Explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles, And made easy to those who have not studied Mathematics by James Ferguson

Sheets of handwriting were taken to the printer whose job it was to order and place letter blocks of type that matched it. Even something as casual as a newspaper was at most a weekly affair, and only available in major cities. Printing happened one sheet at a time, inking the plate of text that was then pressed to locally made paper. Fortunately, by 1773 the Scottish goldsmith William Ged had invented the stereoplate, or stereotype, enabling entire pages of type to be cast, eliminating the need to set each letter and word by hand. After printing and cutting the pages, they were assembled and bound into book form. Bookbinding was a craft and an art, not an industry. This particular book is an exceptional piece of art, "bound by J. MacKenzie, Bookbinder to the King."
The writer James Ferguson (1710-1776) also adds interest to this book. He is considered a distinguished Scotsman of science. In the 1700s it was very unusual for a man of humble birth to rise so far above his station. He studied and tried many different occupations before finding success in the field of science, eventually becoming a Fellow at the Royal Society of London in 1763.

Black History In July

Yesterday we released our most recent email catalog out into the world. It's packed full in an attempt to share the wide variety of selection available from our recent Black Americana acquisition. From Southern slavery accounts to Harlem Renaissance poetry, there are signed copies, first editions, and unexpected treats!

We're delighted to expand this offering at our store. In keeping with our typical schema, you'll also find a relevant art book and an LP in the mix.

Of course, we have plenty more from this collection available exclusively at our store.

Christmas in July is overrated. Why not repeat Black History month? It's a charged, interesting and dynamic piece of our country's history.

Live Music Event: June 2, 2016

On June 3, 2016, there will be live music al fresco at Panoply Books for your listening pleasure. The garden next to the bookstore will be open with seating, and plenty of room to mingle. It finishes in plenty of time to watch the First Friday fireworks.

Our music coordinator has invited two musical acts offering genre-defying music, , performing 6-8 pm:

HUMAN ADULT BAND
'Rock n' Crud Legends' as per Thurston Moore & Byron Coley
www.dihd.net
Here's a sound clip of Adult Band:
https://youtu.be/-4E9By5pNxg

FOND HAN
Experimental murky-sunset gut rock from central NJ
https://soundcloud.com/fondhan

Here's the Facebook Event Page, if you like.

The performances will wrap up in time to enjoy the evening's fireworks over the Delaware River.

Of course, you are invited to visit our genre-defying book boutique and gallery of rare finds. We'll be extending our shopping hours for our fireworks guests: 11 am and 8 pm.

Black History Acquisition

Black History Collection

Books and more featuring the African American experience.

We recently acquired an extensive collection of African American writers, abolition collectibles, and Black history books. We're very excited to be carrying these remarkable and fascinating books from early in American history.

A small sample of what we've received:

a series of stories from early South Carolina African Americans,

http://www.panoplybooks.com/product/nigger-to-nigger-by-ecl-adams-1928-first-edition

children's book about Black Americans from 1941

http://www.panoplybooks.com/product/parasols-is-for-ladies-by-elizabeth-ritter-1941

African American poet, early 20thC

http://www.panoplybooks.com/product/lyrics-from-cottonland-songs-merry-and-sad-by-john-charles-mcneill-1922-2nd-printing

fiction, early 20thC Black American writer

http://www.panoplybooks.com/product/almanzar-evarts-hero-by-j-frank-davis-1925-signed

19th C satirical novel about race relations in US

http://www.panoplybooks.com/product/samantha-among-the-colored-folks-by-marietta-holley-1894

New items from this collection are being added to our website regularly. Some have already flown out the door to new homes! We hope you'll stop back and check for more soon. Look for an email featuring a few of the treasures from this collection!

#BlackAmericana #BlackWriters #BlackHistory #AfricanAmericanBooks #panoplybooks

First Post: An Introduction to Panoply Books

A mini history and some background for our store and online presence.

From a handful of annual book shows to a store front in Lambertville, NJ, Panoply Books continues to adapt and change and grow. Our unique collection is carefully curated by the owner Roland Boehm. It has evolved into an eclectic book boutique and gallery that encompasses more than one store front.

Our inventory includes a vast array of books, paintings, prints, unusual objects d'art, and a constantly growing collection of LPs (varied, but with a strong leaning toward jazz and blues). There is a focus on the best of used books, LPs, textiles and art that are quality, scarce, out-of-print, unusual, different, offbeat, and beautiful.

Over the last 4 years we've worked to establish a bit of an online presence, gradually building a website, social media presence, and an emerging eCommerce business. Our brick-and-mortar store has hosted a long term series of poetry events as well as the summer music series, tarot readings. and a handful of photo and film shoots.

In 2016, our storefront is looking great with fresh inventory arriving every day. We add to our website regularly, dabble in social media, and regularly sell books online through Abe Books, eBay, direct contacts, and our website.

Each item in our store has been carefully selected and researched, to offer the best books, music and art at a fair and reasonable price. Each customer and sale is given individual attention for a personal shopping experience.

We invite you to visit our store and enjoy the diverse, unique selection of books, art, vinyl and rare finds.