Posts tagged ‘photography’
For John Lennon’s 70th Birthday, a 70% Discount
Weekly Book Special: October 12th-October 18th
October 9th was John Lennon’s 70th birthday. In commemoration of the founding Beatle’s enduring musical contributions, we have a present for you: 70% off a photo book documenting the Fab Four from their humble Liverpool beginnings to their post-Beatles solo careers and personal lives.
The Beatles:
From Yesterday to Today
Written by Nik Cohn, Photography by Harry Benson, Hardcover, 127 pages
List Price: $25.00, Lowest Amazon.com Price: $13.00, OUR PRICE: $7.95
“The ultimate fan’s guide to the Beatles is filled with rare photographs from the archives of Life magazine, complemented by little-known trivia and lore, interviews with first-hand Beatlemania witnesses, and a timeline history of the group.”
Life Magazine photographer Harry Benson upholds the magazine’s reputation as the greatest chronicler of the 1960s experience in America. Benson has supplied us with some of the most iconic images of the Beatles which sit side by side in this volume with rarer, more intimate portraits of practice sessions, late night chats and the infamous clashes between John and Paul.
This book is discounted only through October 18th. Purchase it for $7.95 (list price $25.00):
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In addition, let your loved one, relative or friend choose a unique gift from our extensive selection of nearly 40,000 hard-to-find books and prints. Give a gift certificate in any amount. |  |
Timeless Toy Trains, Now Half Off!
Weekly Book Special: September 28th-October 4th
It was in September of 1900 that Joshua Lionel Cohen opened up a small manufacturing company in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The line of model electric trains produced there would soon become known as “the standard of the world” and, even 110 years later, are still marveled at by adults and children alike. At Diane Publishing we’re celebrating the history of model trains with this week’s special:
A Century of Lionel:
Timeless Toy Trains
by Dan Ponzol, Hardcover, 160 pages, 2000, ISBN: 1567999662
List Price: $35.00, Lowest Amazon.com Price: $30.00, OUR PRICE: $17.95
“This officially licensed, centennial celebration of the Lionel electric train tells the story of the first 100 years of Lionel and showcases stunning, full-color photographs of some of the most famous — as well as some of the rarest — examples of the Lionel output.
Readers are treated to a warm retelling of the history of the cherished toy, from the first electrical devices invented by engineer and Lionel founder Joshua Lionel Cowen to the technical marvels being produced today.
Written by toy train expert Dan Ponzol, this wonderful book is a stunning tribute to one of the most cherished American institutions.”
The Midwest Book Review declares this gorgeous coffee table exposition “a ‘must’ for all true Lionel train fans.” Author and Lionel train collector Dan Ponzol has given these gorgeous, hand-crafted playthings the royal treatment they truly deserve.
A Century of Lionel is sure to draw in readers of all ages; it is “wonderfully illustrated throughout with reproduced images from legendary catalogs and Lionel train ads, as well as representative models from [Ponzol’s] expansive collection.”
This book is discounted only through October 4th. Purchase it for $17.95 (list price $35.00):
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In addition, let your loved one, relative or friend choose a unique gift from our extensive selection of nearly 40,000 hard-to-find books and prints. Give a gift certificate in any amount. | |
Eggs-traordinary Chicken Gift Book, Now 67 Percent Off
Weekly Book Special: September 14th-September 20th
September is National Chicken Month. To commemorate, this week’s book special is:
Complete Chicken:
An Entertaining History of Chickens
by Pam Percy, Hardcover, 144 pages, 2002, ISBN: 0896585573
List Price: $30.00, Lowest Amazon.com Price: $29.99, OUR PRICE: $9.95
The book provides a colorful, egg-straordinarily entertaining account of chicken history; breeds; the world of chicken collectibles; and the chicken’s role in art, pop culture, myth, legend, religion, and folklore.
You’ll also find a wide selection of words and phrases inspired by chicks, technical poultry terms, instructions on how to say “cock-a-doodle-doo” in different languages, as well as other trivia.
The lighthearted yet informative text is complemented by photos of different breeds, images of chickens in ads, and photos of chicken collectibles (also known as “chickenalia”).
Our favorite section is on chickens in advertising (click to enlarge):
“The author, an avowed chicken afficionado, presents the lowly chicken in a brand new light in this entertaining book,” writes John Trapp, a retired wildlife biologist, on his Birds Etcetera blog. “I found this book to be highly readable, visually appealing, entertaining, and educational. What more could you want in a book?”
This book is discounted only through September 20th. Purchase it for $9.95 (list price $30.00):
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In addition, let your loved one, relative or friend choose a unique gift from our extensive selection of nearly 40,000 hard-to-find books and prints. Give a gift certificate in any amount. | |
Birding for Beginners: A Comprehensive Introduction to Bird Watching
Birding for Beginners:
A Comprehensive Introduction to Bird Watching
by Sheila Buff
(Paperback, 190 pages, 1993, ISBN: 0517161893)
List Price: $25.00, OUR PRICE: $17.00
An informative and accessible introduction to the fascinating world of birdwatching.
With black and white illustrations and exquisite four-color photography, this book is the ideal guide to the birding experience. All the essentials for the beginner to enjoy birdwatching are covered: equipment, identification techniques, field guides, optics for birders, birding by ‘ear,’ and much more.
Also valuable are chapters on viewing bird behaviors such as feeding, flight, feather care, nesting and migration so the birder understands not just what kind of bird it is, but what the bird is doing. In addition, a selection of appendices cover everything from birding organizations to birding publications.
American Photographic Patents 1840-1880: The Daguerreotype and Wet Plate Era (ISBN: 1887694218)
Read more about our selection of books on 19th century photography. >>
American Photographic Patents 1840-1880:
The Daguerreotype and Wet Plate Era (ISBN: 0871699729)
by Janice G. Schimmelman (Paperback, 119 pages, 2002, $25.00)
Identifies all of the nearly 1,000 United States patents related to photography during the wet plate era. To be included in this list the patent had to have direct application to photography or its application had to be recognized and indicated by the applicant.
Read this book on 
before you purchase it.
There is no easy way to identify 19th century patents by one simple subject heading, instead photographic patents appear in the official records under such headings as album, albumen, ambrotype, camera, carte de visite, collodion, daguerreotype, ferrotype, magic lantern, multiplying camera, picture card holder, plate holder, portable camera, solar camera and stereoscope, and photograph or photographic.
Patent for Improvement in Stereoscopes, 1876. American Photographic Patents, p.100
Contents: List by Title, Patentee, Residence and Date for Invention, Reissued Invention, and Design Patents. Illustrations.
Maureen Taylor on Family Tree Magazine‘s Photo Detective blog recommends this book to learn more about photographic patents and “clamps around a person’s waist or head to keep him still for the long exposure time.”
Purchase this book for $25.00:
Read more about our selection of books on 19th century photography. >>
Tintype in America, 1856-1880 (American Philosophical Society Transaction 97-2, ISBN: 0871699729)
Read more about our selection of books on 19th century photography. >>
Tintype in America, 1856-1880
(American Philosophical Society Transaction 97-2, ISBN: 0871699729)
by Janice G. Schimmelman (Paperback, 270 pages, 2007, $29.00)
A history of the ferrotype or tintype in American photography, from its origin in the 1850s until 1880.
Schimmelman, Professor of Art History, presents a history of the technological development of the tintype and its manufacture, and touches upon a number of issues relating to the cultural and social aspects of the tintype. She lays an interesting groundwork for thinking about the class dimensions of Victorian aesthetics and about the political economy of taste.
The heart of the book is the extended accounts of the improvements in the presentation of the images and of the inventors and businessmen who made the improvements and advanced their careers in the business. Raises important issues in art history and the history of photography. Includes over 200 reproductions of actual tintypes.
[A]n excellent resource for collectors, researchers, and nineteenth-century photography enthusiasts,” writes Dennis O. Williams in The Daguerreian Society Newsletter (20:2, May-July 2008) [PDF].
“Schimmelman guides the reader through the book in a chronological fashion that the reader can easily follow. Through the writing of this text, her passion for the photographic history of the tintype has indeed been preserved. The organization of the book is splendid. Along with the wealth of written history to complement the story, Schimmelman includes examples of patent drawings and photographic advertisements. Exemplifying the depth of research that went into this book, a reference section concludes each chapter. ”
People posing for tintypes.
Tintype in America, 1856-1880, p.48.
The journal Early Popular Visual Culture (8:2, May 2010) adds: “This is not the only book on the tintype photograph, but it is probably the most comprehensive, being based on years of collecting and research by the author, with information culled from books, photographic journals and newspapers.”
“As the author puts it, these images offer ‘small windows into American life.’ The book is good on the themes of these photographs, and Chapter 9 is arranged thematically, dealing with such subjects as death and remembrance, Americans at play and work, and beloved children.
“Elsewhere in the book the author covers the invention and development of the process, various kinds of studios and albums, and double exposures, as well as techniques for retouching and colouring tintypes.”
Purchase this book for $29.00:
Read more about our selection of books on 19th century photography. >>
Book Special for National Fresh Food and Vegetable Month and Great Outdoors Month: Wild Food Gourmet: Fresh and Savory Food From Nature (ISBN: 1552092429)
Weekly Book Special: June 1st-June 7th
June is National Fresh Food and Vegetables Month and Great Outdoors Month. In commemoration, this week’s special is:
The Wild Food Gourmet:
Fresh and Savory Food From Nature
by Anne Gardon (Paperback, 174 pages, 1998, $25.00)
Cooking with wild food is a gratifying experience from start to finish. Discover a bounty of tender leaves, delicious berries and nutritious roots that grow wild all around us. Illustrated with over 75 color photos, this delightful cookbook features 100 delicious recipes using fresh-picked greens, berries and mushrooms and brings a new twist to home cooking and camping trips.
Author Anne Gardon grew up in Provence, France, where she followed her parents on their quest for wild edibles. When she came to North America she discovered a totally different and fascinating vegetation and started harvesting and eating wild edibles, which turned out to be delicious.
Our favorite recipe is for Tortellini with Artichoke Hearts and Shaggy Manes (click to enlarge):
“Containing exceptional photos, this book will appeal to gardeners, amateur botanists, restaurateurs and creative cooks,” writes Explore Magazine. Adds the Kansas City Star: “Learn tips on foraging, preserving, drying and freezing, along with recipes that are quite simple but elegant.”
National Parks Week Books: Ansel Adams: The National Park Service Photographs, Underwater Wonders of the National Parks, Hey Ranger! Kids Ask Questions About Grand Canyon National Park
National Parks Week starts tomorrow, running from April 17th through April 25th. For the next 7 days, all national parks are free, and are hosting celebrations. Here are three books that we offer on National Parks:
Ansel Adams:
The National Park Service Photographs
Photos by Ansel Adams, Introduction by Alice Gray
(Hardcover, 144 pages, 1995, $25)
In 1941 Ansel Adams was hired by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior to photograph America’s national parks for a series of murals that would celebrate the country’s natural heritage. Because of the escalation of World War II, the project was suspended after less than a year, but not before Adams had produced this group of breathtaking images.
These stunning photographs of the natural geysers & terraces in Yellowstone, the rocks & ravines in the Grand Canyon, the winding rivers & majestic mountains in Glacier and Grand Teton national parks, the mysterious Carlsbad Caverns, the architecture of ancient Indian villages, and many evocative views of the American West demonstrate the genius of Adams’s technical and aesthetic inventiveness.
Underwater Wonders of the National Parks: A Diving and Snorkeling Guide Compiled by the National Park Service
by Daniel J. Lenihan and John D. Brooks (Paperback, 338 pages, 2000, $20)
Perhaps the single best-kept secret about our National Parks is the underwater realm that they include: millions of acres of submerged lands, only a small fraction of which has been explored by divers.
From geysers on the bottom of Yellowstone Lake, to the coral reefs of the Dry Tortugas, to steamers sunk in the frigid waters of Isle Royale in Lake Superior, to the kelp forests of the Channel Islands, the National Parks have much to offer the diver. Almost all 61 NPS areas with significant water holdings are of some interest to divers.
This guide introduces divers and others interested in water sports to this dimension of the National Parks, such as snorkeling rare coral reefs; shipwreck diving and underwater archaeological sites. Color photos and detailed maps.
National Parks Traveler used this book as a reference for the Top 10 favorite diving and snorkeling parks.
Hey Ranger!: Kids Ask Questions about Grand Canyon National Park
Written by Kim Williams Justesen, Illustrations by Judy Newhouse
(Paperback, 46 pages, 2006, $10)
Kids ask the greatest questions! Is the Grand Canyon cursed? Why are there so many bugs here? Do park rangers feed the animals? This book answers the real questions — some smart, some silly — that kids ask Grand Canyon National Park rangers every day. Filled with fascinating facts and ready-to-color illustrations, this fun and educational guide offers hours of entertainment for explorers of all ages.
Weekly Book Special: Savour of Ireland: A Photographic and Gastronomic Tour of Ireland a Century Ago
March 7th-14th Weekly Half-Off Book Special
To commemorate the upcoming holiday of St. Patrick’s Day, this week’s special is:
Savour of Ireland:
A Photographic and Gastronomic Tour of Ireland a Century Ago
by George Morrison (Paperback, 127 pages, 1996, $17.00)
Imagine a tourist embarking on a journey through 19th-century Ireland, beginning in 1860. This hard-to-find book imported from the U.K. describes such an experience.
This book includes romantic narrative, more than 50 never-before-seen historical photos and more than a dozen period recipes combine to give a flavor of the country.
My favorite spread is of Clifden Castle, built in 1865 (click to enlarge):
Author George Morrison is also an Irish documentary filmmaker, best known for the groundbreaking films Mise Éire (I Am Ireland) in 1959 (Alan at the GaelMovies blog calls it “Ireland’s most important film”) and Saorise? (Freedom?) in 1961, both about the fight for Irish independence. Morrison received the Lifetime Contribution Award at the 2009 Irish Film and Television Awards.
“The process of identification, salvage and restoration of these fragile artifacts,” says Awards President Mary McAleese, “ensured the survival of a…record of a period of Irish history which would otherwise have disappeared.”
Books on American Photography, Daguerreotypes and Tintypes in the 1800s
In February 2010, our affiliate the American Philosophical Society (APS) hosted a lecture on early American portraits in the form of silhouettes, miniatures and early photographs called daguerreotypes. We offer two books on the topic:
Tintype in America, 1856-1880
by Janice G. Schimmelman
American Philosophical Society Transaction 97-2, 2007
(Paperback, 270 pages, $29.00)
A history of the ferrotype or tintype in American photography, from its origin in the 1850s until 1880.
Read more >>
American Photographic Patents 1840-1880:
The Daguerreotype and Wet Plate Era
by Janice G. Schimmelman
(Carl Mautz Publications, 2002, Paperback, 119 pages, $25.00)
Identifies all of the nearly 1,000 United States patents related to photography during the Wet Plate Era. Read more >>
