April 2022

The legendary Broadway singer and comedienne, Fanny Brice, is featured on the cover of this 1915 song, written by Tin Pan Alley songwriter Harry von Tilzer.  An aircraft at night with Ms. Brice under its spotlight is a fine example of imagination and show business hustle.  It is part of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music from the National Air and Space Museum Library.

The theme of this march and two-step celebration of speed and transportation on the ground, water, and air.  Dating from 1910, Motor King is part of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music, held in the National Air and Space Museum Library. 

The Dill Pickles is a 1906 piece of ragtime music that was illustrative of the public view of airships as giant pickles/cucumbers or sausages.  This sheet music is a fine example of the humor and charm of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautcial Sheet Music, held in the National Air and Space Museum Library. 

This 1898 waltz sheet music was published in the United Kingdom and features a woman in flight, riding a stork.  This is one of the many "aeronautical" themed pieces of sheet music the are part of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music, which is held in the National Air and Space Museum Library. 

One of the finer examples of illustrative fantasy reminiscent of a Jules Verne story, this sheet music march from 1907 is in excellent condition.  It is from the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music in the National Air and Space Museum Library.  

A popular song from 1919 that was representative of women's interest in aviation and flying. Since Katy the Waitress became an Aviatress is an example of popular songwriting's ability to capture contemporary trends and turn them into songs they hoped the public would adopt.  This sheet music is part of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music held in the National Air and Space Museum Library.

A classic World War I song from famed composer Irving Berlin, this sheet music is part of the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Sheet Music held in the National Air and Space Museum Library.  The cover includes a photograph of comedian and singer Eddie Cantor, who performed the song in the Ziegfeld Follies.  An excellent example of Americana from the early 20th century.

This handbook contains everything you need to know to get started stamp collecting. It was written by prolific philatelic author Stephen Datz in consultation with famed philatelist Wayne Youngblood. The book covers the essentials and illustrations augment the text. The authors define philatelic terms, discuss all the different ways stamps are hinged, and dive into the history of stamps. 

William Finden and his younger brother, Edward, were renowned English engravers. Their smooth, neat style proved popular and soon the brothers engaged several assistants to publish volumes of engraved plates depicting aspects of English society. Views of Ports and Harbours is one such volume. As the preface describes, this work is comprised of views of most of the principal ports, naval stations, watering places, and fishing-towns on the English coast from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Plymouth.

This children's book is filled with colorful art on every page by artist Daniel Minter. The book consists of 12 short poems, each poem named after a month of the year. The author, Katharine Boling, grew up in the Gullah region of South Carolina, an area on the coast populated with descendants of freed slaves. At the end of the book is a glossary of Gullah terms. Some words in the poems include puntop (on top of), bittle (food), and bex (angry). Each poem describes what life is like during the seasons of the Gullah year, in Gullah country, in Gullah language.

Featuring only a few black and white photos (Frederick Douglass, a statue of Frederick Douglass, his first wife, and his second wife), this book is a masterpiece of prose. Professor Benjamin Arthur Quarles, celebrated Frederick Douglass expert, adds value to Douglass’ own three autobiographies by delving deeper into the type of man Frederick Douglass became over the years. From showing immense courage when overcoming obstacles to demonstrating poise in the face of controversy, Frederick Douglass became a hallmark to the U.S. abolitionist movement.

This highly illustrated book is a masterpiece. Over 100 pages in length, it describes the evolution of African American artists over time. This book focuses on the late 1900s and spans through the first decade of the 21st century. This is a Smithsonian American Art Museum publication. A New York native, the author graduated from multiple Ivy League universities including Princeton University and Columbia University. Every chapter is illustrated with reprints of paintings by influential African American artists followed by an extensive bio of each artist.

Book artist and engineer Joe D'Ambrosio wrote, printed, illustrated, signed, and bound just 125 editions of this book. The first twenty-five copies of the printing have a deluxe binding and additions such as extra hand-coloring, metallic inks, and feathers. This edition is one of the rare twenty-five. The text of the tale is letterpress printed in four colors on two different colors of confetti paper.