Search Results: Eccentric and Offbeat from The Owl at the Bridge

Paris, 1873; reprint Martino 1998. Hard Cover. xi, 277, 129 pages; 22 cm. The Ruggieri brothers of Bologna were considered among the most proficient and expert practitioners of the art of pyrotechnics of the 18th and 19th centuries. Throughout the 18th century they were responsible for the most elaborate and innovative displays of fireworks and were official court pyrotechnicians to the French Crown, illuminating many state occasions, weddings, births, coronations and funerals. The Ruggieris assembled perhaps the finest collection of fête books ever seen. Over 1500 books were included in the auction here catalogued. The Ruggieri catalog is important because no standard or complete bibliography of festival books exists. Until now even the Ruggieri has been difficult to use. Now a reprint edition is available in which every book is indexed -- including lots with multiple volumes bound in. The 129-page index provides author (some effort was made to more precisely identify authors) and title entries,… Read More

N.Y., Dover, c1948.. Soft Cover. viii, 338 p. Hoaxes in art, history, science, literature, politics, journalism. Stock #26594. Vg/paperback Frauds Forgeries Fakes

Woodstock, N.Y., Overlook, 1998. Soft Cover. [6], 329 p., 22.5 cm. An anecdote- and joke-filled discussion of cigars, with many cigar stories from movies and literature. A good read, but there is no index and no way to locate specific information. A nice gift for a cigar smoker. Vg; softcover. 101878.