Old books, free prizes inside!

Four times a year, our library has a used books sale. It’s phenomenal because you can get some REALLY old books for cheap. I brought home these two books today:

So Youth May Know: New Viewpoints On Sex and Love by Roy E. Dickerson, 1930

A Dictionary of the Bible, comprising its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History, edited by William Smith, 1868.

I’m about halfway through So Youth May Know, which I really bought more as a novelty item but is actually very good, and reveals a lot about the time in which it was written. The discovery of testosterone was 5 years away, so the chemicals involved in male puberty are referred to as mysterious “internal secretions”. But the author also surprised me by taking young men to task about treating women badly. For example, the he calls men out for dividing women into categories of “decent girls” and “fair game”, and failing to consider that the social and health issues related to promiscuity affect women to a greater degree. Pretty progressive for 1930.

But A Dictionary of the Bible is the real jem here. Not just because of the painstaking work it would have taken to produce this tome, but also because of all the surprises hidden between the pages!

First, a look at some of the pages:

But wait, what’s this?

It’s a postcard from 1934!

I honestly can’t read much of it, and I think it was used to take notes with after it had been received.

But look, there’s more!

On May 27, 1877, somebody tore off a piece of newspaper to use as a bookmark. And I think that’s awesome.

Another bookmark! What could this one be?

I have never seen one of these before. A weather map for April 8, 1922. Did they stuff these in newspapers? Maybe they were available free at the corner store? I’ll have to do more research. I also think it’s cool enough to use as art, so next time I’m out thrifting I’ll look for a suitable frame.

What?! Two more things?

I was totally stumped as to what this is, until I showed it to a friend who knows a lot more history than I do. She identified it as a conference schedule for “Palestine, Its Past, Present, and Future” held in February 1942. So right in the middle of WWII, and 6 years before the creation of the modern nation-state of Israel. NEATO.

I emailed Nashville First Baptist Church to tell them what I’d found and they asked if they could add it to their archives. They’re gearing up for their 200th anniversary so having ephemera like this is very helpful to them. I love that I got to help!

Now this is interesting. The 12 Apostles’ being called compared to conscription into the army. Alrighty then.

The other side has a letter to the editor referencing the FDR and the ongoing war, so even though this doesn’t have a date on it, it was some time during WWII.

There’s all my nifty treasures from the book sale! I think the weather report is my favourite; I can’t wait to frame it.

To the thrift store!