Encyclopedias and Such

The International Wildlife Encyclopedia – 20 Volumes. Hard to pinpoint exactly when we got these; somewhere in the mid-70’s, I would estimate. They were a family venture, but I imagine they were mainly purchased to feed Mike’s interest in nature, and probably at his urging. I remember in Briesemeister I took a volume to Art Class to use the picture of a squirrel as reference for a drawing I painted. I was especially interested in the section in Volume 20 dedicated to mythological animals. They sat on the little chest of drawers in the hall at Loop Drive for ages, in two equal stacks on top of a protecting towel laid like a runner under the hall mirror. Ranking: Nostalgic Keeper. File Code: Reference. Wildlife. Hardback.

The World Book Encyclopedia, 1969 Edition – 22 Volumes. Another family legacy. A constant presence and resource during childhood. The smell alone is worth volumes of memories. Many school reports made from its pages; many hours whiled away searching its articles and pictures of history, myth, and nature. I learned the Futhark Runes from its pages and used them to translate “The Hobbit” cover. Much of it outdated by 1980, but it preserved a certain attitude that I can only describe as “Great Society”. The clear film pages showing the frog and human anatomy were fascinating and infuriating, because sometimes they refused to lay down correctly. I have a drawing of the volumes on their shelf which stood in one corner of the living room for a while; they also resided in the ‘hall’ between the dining room and living room. Ranking: Nostalgic Keeper. File Code: Reference. Nostalgic. Hardback. The World Book Dictionary, 1969 Edition, 2 Volumes. A part of the World Book set. At one time (spurred on by my interest in runes) I went through every letter of the alphabet, making a chart of the different permutations of the letterforms through various systems of writing. Chewed on by Nemo (a.k.a. Nippy) when the set abided in ‘the boys’ room’ for a while in later years. I like them because they include the etymology as well as the definition of words. Ranking: Keeper. File Code: Reference, Hardback.

Childcraft: The How and Why Library, 1969 Edition, 15 Volumes. Got at the same time as the World Book Encyclopedias, they resided in the same custom wooden shelf, along with the Dictionaries and the Yearbooks. Much more emotional attachment here, especially the first two volumes of poems and stories for children, profusely illustrated. Mom sometimes read from them to us. I always liked Places to Know (Volume 10); of special note were the Viewmaster models of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The first volume has “Babel 379-4550” in Mom’s handwriting; a souvenir of when it was taken to school once. Ranking: Nostalgic Keeper. File Code: Reference. Nostalgic. Childhood. Hardback.

The Book of Knowledge, 1927 Edition, 20 Volumes. Bought at Yesterday’s Warehouse. We used to have a stray volume (Volume 8, I believe, bought at a garage sale or other thrift source, since sold), red cover, of a later edition, that I really enjoyed. When I found this complete edition (somewhat marred by a few cut pages) I wavered a bit before paying a whole $20 for them. Full of stories, poems, old technology that used to be cutting edge, outdated medical and scientific knowledge, and fascinating illustrations. You never know what you’ll find with a good browse. Right now, they act as shelf filler in Susan’s house. Ranking: Keeper. File Code: Reference. Nostalgic. Hardback.

Man, Myth, and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural, 24 Volumes. I remember seeing these advertised on commercials and in ads in magazine. There was always a hint of forbidden danger around them. The cover of Volume One was that picture called “The Elemental” or “The Vampires Are Coming”, by Austin Osman Spare, an occult artist. It appeared at the beginning of the movie “Gargoyles”. I finally got to get a peek into them years later when Uncle Bobby had a set. We weren’t supposed to mess with them, probably more because he didn’t want a bunch of kids fooling with his things than any perceived spiritual danger, which is why Mom would have told us to leave them alone. Oh, and there was some nudity. “These books are a snapshot of the supernatural styles and obsessions of the time, dangerous, transgressive, and daring, before the New Age came along and washed it all twinkly with crystals.” – Power of Babel. I got this set in 2014, in a bucket list effort to finally see the whole thing. Ranking: Keeper. File Code: Reference. Supernatural. Hardback.

The Enchanted World...Time Life Books; 20 Volumes, Incomplete. Ghosts, Giants And Ogres, Legends Of Valor, Fairies And Elves, Spells And Bindings, Magical Justice, The Book Of Christmas, Wizards And Witches, The Book Of Beginnings, Night Creatures, The Secret Arts, Water Spirits, Magical Beasts, Dragons, Seekers And Saviors, Dwarfs, Fabled Lands, The Fall Of Camelot, Tales Of Terror. Who else remembers Vincent Price flogging this series by Time Life Books back in the 80's? These are good books, full of classic and new art, but readers should be aware they are full of embellishment and sometimes modern "spin," and not to be taken as scholarly or encyclopedic, like the classic "Man, Myth, and Magic". Financial situations made me quit the series before I could get all the books; it needs “The Lore of Love” and “Gods and Goddesses”. Ranking: Keepers. [If the collection were complete, I would value it more. As it is, I am only strongly attached to them, partly because of the enormous expense and trouble and time I spent.] File Code: Reference. Hardback. Legend and Myth. Art.