[Rarebooks] FS: Shoveling the Shit in our new Bookin'!

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

Two items from our new edition of Bookin'!
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Bookin-8.pdf>
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 Massachusetts Shovel Manufacturers' Label Scrapbook, 1870s.

DISCUSSION: A very curious scrapbook filled with newspaper and magazine
clippings, and with labels connected to the N.B. Sherman Shovel Company of
Middleboro, Massachusetts, from the 1850 to the 1870s. The book begins
with clippings dating from 1861 and 1848, and the occasional
shovel-related label, 16 leaves (with 0 to 8 or 9 labels per page). These
are followed by a series of 8 pages with 99 numbered labels, with "Labills
used at Brown & Sherman July 26, 1870" in pencil at the top, and a
manuscript note- "August 16, 1870 Brown & Sherman suspended business, had
a creditors meeting. Sept. 1st, chose a committee to investigate their
affairs and report. Sept. 8 (illegible) at that meeting N.B. Sherman
offered 25 cents cash and the creditors, present, accepted and gave him
until Oct. 1st to see if he could effect a compromise with all his
creditors. Oct. 3rd 1870 N.B. Sherman has made a compromise with all of
his creditors and opened the shop this Oct. 3rd Wm. T. Brown his former
partner retires. Now may the business prosper is the desire of Dexter
Phillips". These are followed by several more leaves devoted mostly to
news clippings, followed by 9 more pages of labels, numbered 100-222 and
dated 1871 in pencil. The final page, dated December 31, 1876, contains a
manuscript note by Dexter Phillips, reflecting on the conduct of his life
during the past year and promising improvement for the new one, along with
6 more labels.

The labels reflect a variety of shovel manufacturers and retailers from
Pittsburgh, Chicago, Albany, Hartford, St. Louis, Buffalo, Toledo, Boston,
Milwaukee, Louisville, Cleveland, New York, Syracuse, Utica, Nashville,
Evansville, Baltimore, Wheeling, Manchester & Concord New Hampshire,
Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Toronto. Altogether a curious and unique
collection.

The N.B. Sherman Shovel Company was located on the banks of the Nemasket
River in Middleborough, Massachusetts. A shovel factory had been founded
there by Peter H. Peirce in the first quarter of the 19th century, later
became the Nemasket Manufacturing Company, and in 1867 was sold and became
Brown, Sherman & Washburn. After a fire leveled the factory in 1868
Washburn sold his quarter share to Brown & Sherman. Production restarted
in 1869, and in 1870 Brown sold out to Sherman (the meeting with creditors
noted in the manuscript) and the firm became N. B. Sherman & Company. The
company prospered and exhibited shovels at the Vienna International
Exposition. After a few years the name had changed to Middleboro' Shovel
Co., but the increasing unreliability of the pond-fed Nemasket River and
the business downturn caused by the Long Depression of 1873-79, doomed the
company, which closed on August 2, 1877.

DESCRIPTION: Calf & marbled board-bound ledger, 8.5"x13.5", 29 leaves, 296
labels. With- a cabinet card showing an exposition (?) display of N.B.
Sherman shovels with the label of a London agent.

CONDITION NOTES: Covers quite worn, interior wear and soil, some leaves
excised

PRICE: $875 -

Pictures =>
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 “Soluble Pacific Guano. Manufactured by the Pacific Guano Company of
Boston, Mass.”

Printed by the Press of Rand, Avery, and Company, Boston, in 1882.

DISCUSSION: A rather wonderful catalog promoting guano imported and
prepared by a Boston firm, explaining the attributes and benefits of
Soluble Pacific Guano, and packed with glowing testimonials, mostly from
happy farmers. The firm began manufacturing and selling Soluble Pacific
Guano (which would be a great name for a rock band) in 1865, with an
output of 750 tons, which had increased to 50,000 tons a year by the 1882
publication of this brochure. The company lists agents in New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Guano, animal dung used as fertilizer, was used by Andean farmers 1,500
years ago, and for centuries was collected from small islands off the
coast of Peru, where for thousands of years hundreds of thousands of
seabirds had had nothing much better to do than sit, squabble, and poop.
Spanish Colonial traders reported that "the rulers of the Inca Empire
assigned great value to guano, restricted access to it, and punished any
disturbance of the birds with death". The modern history of Guano dates to
1802, when it became popular in Europe after being promoted by Alexander
von Humboldt. The Guano "harvest" from islands off the coasts of South
America, the Caribbean, Pacific ocean atolls, and the California coast,
created the 19th century agricultural boom of Europe and America, and
sparked several small wars.

The gradual depletion of the once-vast reserves of guano coincided with
the development in 1909 of synthetic fertilizers and effectively put an
end to the industry, but not before it made fortunes for a number of men
who had the foresight to realize you can make millions selling people bird
poop if you package it correctly.

DESCRIPTION: Softcover. 4.5"x6.5", 32 pages.

CONDITION NOTES: The covers have some light wear and soil. The interior
has some minor soil, and s stain.

PRICE: $85 -

PICTURES =>
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See more items from our new edition of Bookin'!
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Bookin-8.pdf>
*********************************************



JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

Post Office Box 239
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061 USA
telephone (413) 247-5080

Our WEBSITE-
<http://www.joslinhall.com>

Our EMAIL LIST
  is used to notify you of new catalogs and specials-
  <http://joslinhall.com/mailman/listinfo/jhrbnews_joslinhall.com>

Our LATEST ADDITIONS-
  <http://www.joslinhall.com/newadd-today.html>

Our LATEST CATALOG-
  <http://www.joslinhall.com/Bookin-8.pdf>

Our BLOG-
  <http://foggygates.blogspot.com/>

 ~ ~ ~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard. Books
may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed; Standard
courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are $5.00 for
the first book, and $2.00 for each additional book. Shipments outside the
U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we are notified within
ten days of your receipt of the books-please ask for full instructions and
terms. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.



JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

Post Office Box 239
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061 USA
telephone (413) 247-5080

Our WEBSITE-
<http://www.joslinhall.com>

Our EMAIL LIST
  is used to notify you of new catalogs and specials-
  <http://joslinhall.com/mailman/listinfo/jhrbnews_joslinhall.com>

Our LATEST ADDITIONS-
  <http://www.joslinhall.com/newadd-today.html>

Our LATEST CATALOG-
  <http://www.joslinhall.com/Bookin-8.pdf>

Our BLOG-
  <http://foggygates.blogspot.com/>

 ~ ~ ~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard. Books
may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed; Standard
courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are $5.00 for
the first book, and $2.00 for each additional book. Shipments outside the
U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we are notified within
ten days of your receipt of the books-please ask for full instructions and
terms. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.