Giveaway winner

This week's winner was Dianna Gabbard, who entered via email. Thanks to all who entered and a personal thank you to all of you who make this site what it is. I will see you all in the New Year. Perhaps a bit earlier. Happy holidays.

Friday Giveaway: Robinson Crusoe - contest closed




Giving away this terribly handsome edition of Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" published by The Easton Press, 1976. It's part of their "100 Greatest Books" series, and features illustrations by Edward A. Wilson. The book is bound in genuine leather, with four raised bands, gilt all edges, silk ribbon bookmark, the works. Just lovely.

Contest now closed, winner announced shortly.

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Hello World


Computer program, a "good old 'Paper-Rock-Scissors' game," handwritten and photocopied. Author is the mysterious Zoltán M.

Found in "Pogo Re-Runs: Some Reflections on Elections" by Walk Kelly. Published by Fireside, 1974.

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Sure Sign The Holidays Are Here


This recipe for fruit cake was featured in my book Handwritten Recipes:

¾ pound shortening
3 eggs
1 pound brown sugar
½ pint molasses
2 cups coffee
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pound raisins
1 pound currants
¼ pound citron, lemon and orange peel
1 pound nuts
2 teaspoons each of all kinds spices, extracts (the ones you like best) little salt
6 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

 Use 5 cups (flour) first and try out. This is a large rule I often cut it down. Do not bake fast. I use 2 or 3 kinds of extracts.


Found in “The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book” by Fannie Merritt Farmer. Published by Little, Brown and Co., 1928.

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American Gentlemen

Silk ribbon with the lettering "American Gentlemen." Could be a promotional item from the old men's magazine of the same name.

Found in "The Complete Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson" published by Crowell, 1885.

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Last Chance

All sold! Thank you! You can still purchase a copy here of course, but they might not make it in time for Christmas.

An X-ercise In Typing

A sailboat made of Xs, my guess is that it was typed up as a school assignment for keyboarding class or something similar.

Found in "Japanese Garden and Floral Art" by Mrs. Paul Kincaid. Published by Hearthside, 1966.

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Dickens winner

This week's winner was Holly Lynn Bruyette, who entered over on Facebook.

Friday Giveaway: Dickens Collection (Contest closed)


Giving away this collection of eight matching volumes by Charles Dickens.

Contest now closed, back with a winner shortly.

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