All posts by Dona

Pegasus Book Plates

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I’d known little about book plates until I visited England where they were popular. When I told my mom about them she procured a small black box of book plates depicting Pegasus in the night sky. I didn’t ask where they came from — it was just something she had. Okay — maybe that’s not entirely true. It is possible I bought them at a yard sale. I don’t remember. I do remember using them though in only very special books.

The time has come to get rid of these — the glue on the back has gotten wet and now all the book plates are stuck to the next. I don’t know if I ever thought about the artist who designed them, even though his name is on the front of the box. I may or may not have known about the descriptive booklet that came with the box of book plates.

Rockwell Kent (June 21, 1882 – March 13, 1971), the artist behind the Pegasus book plates, was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager. [Wikipedia contributors. “Rockwell Kent.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 Apr. 2024. Web. 25 May. 2024.] He’s got a page at the National Gallery of Art website, but none of his works are on display.

The Antioch Bookplate Company still exists, but is now called Bookplate Ink, and I could even order a set of Pegasus book plates if I wanted to. The company has a blog which might provide interesting reading.

A House Dream in 3 Acts

Dreams

Prologue

One of my recurring dream themes is us moving to a new house. I’m alternately excited and sad — excited about the new house and new possibilities and sad that we are leaving our old house. This dream must have been just before I awoke, because it was so vivid. I wrote it down while drinking my morning coffee.

Act I

We found a new home in Georgetown (maybe it was Georgetown, maybe it wasn’t) and started fixing it up. Our bedroom was spacious with a fireplace. Clare’s room was already sparkly and I loved it. I was surprised that it had a small set of stairs leading to a bathroom with two stalls and a sink in it. It seemed cool at first, but then Totty came in and said she thought it was creepy. I immediately saw that too.

Act II

Dean and I were sitting at the dining room table in our old house in Bethesda and I was sad that we were selling it.

Act III

I was driving to Georgetown and got lost. I decided to abandon the car and take Metro instead (nevermind that Metro does not go to Georgetown). I got off the Metro and walked down the street to our new house. On the way I saw a kid with an orange balloon running wild. He ran into the street. I expressed my concern to the parents but they told me to mind my own business. I could hear them talking about me for blocks.

I never got to see the new house again because I then took Metro to go home. I saw Rosanne and we hugged and walked arm-in-arm. I asked about her new job — she said it was in a “canine clinic” and she had adopted a dog. I stopped by her work and saw tiny puppies. I told Rosanne about my latest house dream, which by this time I realized was a dream.

I woke up happy that I’d had a house dream.

House created by Co-Pilot AI

Advertisement Receipt from the 1890s

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I am not sure where this receipt came from. I’m thinking it was from my Mom’s side of the family. I also do not know why it was saved all these years. It sure sent me down a rabbit hole. I now know more than I ever wanted to about Allen Ripley Foote.

Professor Google tells me that the receipt was for A Sound Currency and Banking System — How it May be Secured” written in 19 by Allen Ripley Foote. According to the Amazon blurb the book was still relevant in 2008 when it was republished by Kessinger’s Rare Reprints, although it was panned by H. Parker Willis in the Journal of Political Economy.

Foote was born in Olcott, New York in 1845, although he was raised in Michigan. He volunteered for the Army at age 19 in 1861, was disabled by a gunshot wound in his right lung. He reenlisted in 1864 as a Full Sargent, then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Foote married Emily Louisa Hayt in 1868. They had one daughter, Isabella. On the 1880 census Foote’s occupation was listed as “selling pianos”, however he was also interested in labor organization in New York, where he lived. During the 1800s he wrote several books about economic topics of living in Takoma Park, Maryland, one of which was about electricity. Later he wrote about the economics of telephone companies.

He listed himself as a widow in the 1900 census living in his own home along with female boarder. However his wife was alive and living with their daughter.

He moved a few times and eventually founded and became the first president of the National Tax Association. He also became known as being part of the progressive movement in America.