Weird tales

Wish I had come across these for Halloween, but here they are the day after Thanksgiving instead. Happy Black Friday. All are from past Heritage auctions, so I missed the boat on them. I particularly like the jacket of "The Great Fog".

Franklin Gregory. The White Wolf. New York: Random House, [1941]. First printing.

Edward Shanks. The Dark Green Circle. Indianapolis and New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, [1936]. First edition.

Islwyn Williams. Dangerous Waters. 1952.

Curt Siodmak. Donovan's Brain. New York: Triangle Books, 1944.

Harry Harrison Kroll. The Ghosts of Slave Driver's Bend. Indianapolis and New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, [1937]. First edition.

+Heritage Auctions

Janusz Stanny

Here are a few by this wonderful and prolific polish illustrator. The simple color palettes seem so fresh to me. Each of these uses 4 or less inks. And the forms and line work make me quite envious... Stanny's design and illustration grace hundreds of books. Thanks again to Iskry on pinterest. There are enough great polish book jackets there to make your eyes jump out of your head. Also check out hippopotami studio for more polish book design.

"Siedemnastolatek" (Seventeen) Booth Tarkington Translated by Wacława Komarnicka 1967 via

"Gałązka światła" Afanasjew z Sopotu Cover by Janusz Stanny 1962

"Pożegnanie z panną Syngilu" Jacek Bocheński Cover by Janusz Stanny 1960

First edition Dr. Seuss books

I wish I had my old Dr. Seuss books now, but alas, they went the way of most abandoned childhood things. So, I'm thinking of re-acquiring some. Here are some first editions. They're pricey now, so if you collect, seek out some slightly later editions. That's what I do with most books I collect, often going with later editions or later printings of firsts. Lots of early editions can be found on eBay. Heritage Auctions has some interesting editions, some signed by the author.

"New socks. Two socks. Whose socks? Sue's socks." Fox in Socks. Beginner Books, A Division of Random House, 1965. First edition. — "New socks. Two socks. Whose socks? Sue's socks." Fox in Socks. Beginner Books, A Division of Random House, 1965. First edition.

"I’ll load up five boats with a family of Joats / Whose feet are like cows, but wear squirrelskin coats, / And sit like dogs, but have voices like goats— / Excepting they can’t sing the very high notes." If I Ran the Zoo. Ne… — "I’ll load up five boats with a family of Joats / Whose feet are like cows, but wear squirrelskin coats, / And sit like dogs, but have voices like goats— / Excepting they can’t sing the very high notes." If I Ran the Zoo. New York: Random House, [1950]. This one sold for $1314. on Heritage Auctions

Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat. [New York]: Random House, [1957]. First edition. Signed by the author in blue ballpoint via

"In the places I go there are things that I see / That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z. / I'm telling you this 'cause you're one of my friends. / My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!" Dr. S… — "In the places I go there are things that I see / That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z. / I'm telling you this 'cause you're one of my friends. / My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!" Dr. Seuss. On Beyond Zebra. New York: [1955]. First edition, first issue dust jacket. via

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York: [1957]. First edition, first iss… — “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York: [1957]. First edition, first issue dust jacket. Sold for $437

Here's a really early one that I wasn't familiar with. "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" New York: The Vanguard Press, 1937. sold for $1195 on Heritage Auctions — Here's a really early one that I wasn't familiar with. "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" New York: The Vanguard Press, 1937. sold for $1195 on Heritage Auctions

Russel Wright ceramics and dinnerware

Iroquois stackable ice blue Cream and Sugar $25 via etsy

American Modern Coffeepot, sugar and creamer $89 via etsy — American Modern Coffeepot, sugar and creamer $89 via etsy

Quick asparagus & potato stir-fry

I make this Asparagus, shiitake, potato, green been, onion stir fry w/ Gardein beef- less tips quite a bit. It's really easy. In fact, I use Trader Joe's Country Potatoes with Hericots Verts & Wild Mushrooms from the freezer section. I always add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to a little olive oil, then add a handful of onion to begin. Next I add the other ingredients (steaming the asparagus first) and stir-fry. I love to keep the heat a little on the high side to get a little char on everything.