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Found this on eBay a few months back through a dealer in Scotland that I usually buy antique game marbles from, he also picks up a few odd pieces at estate sales and this was a rare find for me. It's a 1912 copy of "A Show At Sho Cards" by F.H. Atkinson and G.W. Atkinson. Hardback cover, 9"x11.5" printed on 110# stock, the first 45 or so pages are text and instructions on tools, equipment and techniques and the rest (approximately 220 pages) are printed one side with examples of their work and a couple dozen hand-lettered alphabets. The last 4 pages are advertisements for supplies, books and equipment, a 'Signs of The Times' subscription for $1 a year, Atkinson's other book 'Atkinson, His Book, Sign Painting' listed for $3 and an ad for Paasche Air Brushes with a photo of a man using one on a sign (the air-compressor in the background looks like something out of a Rube Goldberg creation).
I may have paid too much as for actual value, won the bid at $75 and paid another $20 for shipping and handling but I'm satisfied at having bought and preserved a quality piece of signmaking history. And sorry, no, it's not for sale.
-------------------- Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where you gonna find the time to do it over? Posts: 486 | From: McLemoresville, TN. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If it is truely a 1912 edition (not 1913 or 1918 reprints with copyrights also for those years) then it is a classic. Not many of the first editions around. It also answers questions about how things were done in the "old days" as so many lament.
[ August 21, 2003, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Kent Smith ]
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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Atkinson, F. H; Atkinson, G. W. Show at Sho'Cards, A; Comprehensive Complete Concise Chicago, IL: Frederic J. Drake, 1912 Hardcover 4to. Good+. First Edition Thus. 47p 121 figures/illustrations Bookseller Inventory #2000001843
posted
I have Atkinson's 1909 book Sign Painting. Picked it up in Geneva Illinois about five years ago for $75. I also have the Signs of the Times book with color renditions of Atkinson's art by modern Letterheads. Mike Jackson graciously sent over some background information on Atkinson which is kept with the books.
This material is so wonderful I don't know how you would put a price on it.
I think you got a bargain at $70. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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I've got a 1912 (copyright 1912) edition that my mentor left me in his will. What a great book! He also left 50 or so sign related books ranging from the Atkinson book up to a signed Mastering Layout 1st edition. He also left me his original sign kit along with 30+ handmade German quills (he didn't like the commercial brushes). I haven't had the balls to use them, but they're gorgeous quills.
[ August 21, 2003, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Terry Baird ]
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
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Hey Terry - I'm betting that those quills were left to you cause your mentor thought you could make magic with them. I'm thinking that he meant for them to be with someone who would put them to use - be really brave and try one out, just take good care of it - Just my opinion
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5499 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Thanks Kelly, What a nice comment. I actually haven't touched a brush in over a month and I feel pretty bad about it. I'm going in for an operation shortly and won't be doing any heavy production for a few months, maybe it's time to "play" with my brushes again. Thanks again for the encouragement.
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
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Question: How do you tell if it's a first edition? I have a hardback Mastering Layout book that I bought in 86. In the front, says "Copyright 1986", but nothing as far as specifically "first edition" or anything like that.
I met Mike Stevens a few months before his passing and wish I'd have had the book with me to get autographed.
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Hi Don, actually I don't know that it's a first edition. All I have to go on in this case is Tim's story that Mike signed and gave it to him before they were actually on sale. I never really gave it much thought. I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet Mike Stevens though. Does anyone know if there's a way to tell if it's a first edition?
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
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The lowest number in the number line indicates which print batch the copy belongs to. So, 123456789 shows that this is a first printing, as is 987654321 or even 13579864, where 23456789 normally indicates a second printing.
-------------------- Alf Toy Adlib Graphics Saskatoon, SK Canada
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There's a copy of his book on Ebay right now for $99 Ouch! I'm going to be listing on Ebay a copy of Atkinson' last book Sign Art, and its signed by Frank. Bob
-------------------- Bob Ficucell Glass Arts Woodland Hills,Ca Posts: 221 | From: Woodland Hills | Registered: Mar 2000
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