Every famous poet and writer started small, usually with cautious publishers who printed small batches of the first edition of their early books. For most, the cautious print runs continues, even after winning awards, because poetry has ever been an relatively low-volume business, even for the big names. When they later became reknowned, even famous, at home and abroad, these relatively scarce first ... [ more ]

Great Catalogues by Master Booksellers: A Selection of American and English Booksellers' Catalogues, 19th-21st Century. By John R. Payne. Introduction by Kurt Zimmerman. Austin , Roger Beacham, Publisher, . One could be forgiven for thinking it odd that something as ephemeral as the bookseller's catalogue should be treated to such a sumptuous production as John Payne's Great Catalogues by Master Book... [ more ]

It's common knowledge that Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, but did you realize he was also the first American to record a recipe for ice cream? Jefferson's recipe was for vanilla ice cream and he, sadly, did not name it Declaration of Deliciousness (which would be a perfect name if Ben & Jerry's decided to make a tribute flavor!). Precursors to ice cream, often ice mixed with... [ more ]