As you know by now, I’m a lover of both books and ephemera; so when I found this vintage copy of The Tattler, “News and gossip about books,” which was “Issued once in a while by The Putnam Book Store,” I was in heaven.

So here are thirteen fabulous things found/discovered inside the Spring, 1930 issue of The Tatler.

1 The cover, with a cute illustration of “grandpa” in a bookstore with his grandkids:

2 Inside the front cover, a quote on the joys of ready from Richard De Bury in 1344 — 100 years before the invention of printing (later published in 1474).

3 A funny quote from Fresh Schoolboy Howlers, by H. Cecil Hunt: “Mussolini is a sort of material used for ladies’ stockings.”

4 The Care of Books, which begins with this fabulous sentiment: “Why is it that so few people treat books with the proper respect and care? That ubiquitous person, the average man, keeps his car in the best of shape, has his watch overhauled regularly, protects his paintings and etchings, but both mishandles and “mishouses” his fine books.”

5 Books versus Battleships, from a speech in the House of Representatives by Ross A. Collins, delivered on February 7, 1930, with the classic line about the government’s investments: “It is not unreasonable to assume that there is a direct automatic ratio between the two; that the more books there are, the fewer the battleships will be needed and built.”

6 A wonderful illustration, titled The Edition De Luxe:

7 This is fascinating… A photo of a box from the Champion Coated Paper Company, Hamilton, Ohio, which was delivered to the manufacturing department of G.P. Putnam’s Sons (no relation to The Putnam Book Store which published The Tatler, see #13). Read the scan; enjoy the photo — and discuss.

8 The Suppression Of Books — part of a speech given by John Milton in 1644.

9 An article on critics — written by “a certain Mr. Addison” which appeared in an earlier edition of The Tatler (Saturday, April 29, 1710).

10 The Puzzle Page, which has a crossword puzzle and 20 questions you should “try on some erudite friend.” (Here are the answers.)

11 A Word About Prints, an article by Edmond De Luce, curator of prints in the Putnam Bookstore.

12 In Fine Old English Books, the Putnam Bookstore defends its business practice of placing their collection of old books on the mezzanine — absolutely a must read!

13 The back cover, which, as mentioned, makes the clear distinction that The Tatler came from The Putnam Bookstore — not G.P. Putnam’s Sons, book publishers. (Tomato/tomatoe?)

Now, along with the individual goodies, please consider why bookstores today don’t offer more like this… The Tatler is far more about the love of books — and worth saving, in my opinion — than what’s found in those two-sheet fliers in bookstores today.

Whether you love old books or ephemera (and why choose?), collectors will love old issues of The Tatler; just don’t bid against me on them. *wink*

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Article Tags: books, bookstores, collecting, ephemera, history, publishing, vintage, vintage magazines

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