Friday, August 3, 2012

the world in your pocket


Did I tell you about my love for vintage Golden Guides? We had some, including all of the above, when I was a child. Two years ago, when I prepared to open the store, I was obsessed with collecting them to sell. I got them at library sales and on Ebay. I sold them at my cost, just because I wanted people to have them. And I am happy to say that they are one of the things that really rang a bell with customers, that they wanted for themselves and their friends.



The nature guides are the most well known, but there are also regional guides, like this one of The Everglades and Florida Keys, published in 1960. Florida and the Everglades have changed a lot since then. If you want to know more about that in an easy to digest way, read the zany Carl Hiassen books. He writes wonderful books for kids too (middle school age-ish). Hoot was popular around here. I liked it as much (maybe more) as my kids did.

The American Southeast, 1959

The American Southwest, 1955.

 I tell you I am almost afraid to look at these books,
 so much has changed since then.

Insects, 1956.



 Lots of pictures, just enough information.


Appealing pocket size and simplicity. 



25 comments:

  1. I too love these things. I've had them off and on but never seen to hang on to them.

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    1. I was the same way until recently. Now I have a pretty good collection I'm determined to hold onto! I have a weird primal attachment to them...

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  2. they look great. but I hear you when you say you are almost afraid to look at them because so much has changed....

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    1. It's something like the way I don't want to return to my childhood homes, where now things are crowded and built up. I want to remember them the way they were.

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    2. My last reply didn't quite make sense, since the books are the way they were 50 years ago (though not 100 or 200). Anyway, it hurts a little to think of how magical the Everglades once were, and how badly we've screwed them up...and everything else.

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  4. My brother and I fought non-stop over the "Rocks and Minerals" guide when we were growing up together in the early '60's.
    A few years ago he surprised me by sending a copy he had stumbled across in a used book store.
    I love my sweet, thoughtful little brother.....

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  5. Hello Jen:
    Our 'Golden Nature Guide' of Seashells of the World which you so generously and kindly gave to us is very much treasured and, we might add, much admired. Although we had thought to keep it in Brighton, it has found a permanent home on a desk in the Morning Room here in Budapest.

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    1. I am really touched by that. Such a modest book in a room full of cultural wealth! But their modesty is part of the appeal.

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  6. "so much has changed since then", is it good change? I suppose that the original which you are familliar with is better.
    I have no books that I read when I was a kid...because of moving several times before I got married. It's a shame!

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    1. No, not good. I was thinking of how much we've damaged the environment. Over-building, diverting water...

      I get very nostalgic when I see certain books that I loved as a kid.

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  7. I grew up in Florida so your comment on the Everglades hits home. I remember it as an amazing spooky wilderness with swamp creatures which are on the verge of extinction now. We've done so much damage, ugh.

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    1. That's the way I like to think of the Everglades. Did you ever read Susan's fabulous book Adaptation? (Much better than the movie.)

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    2. Oops, I meant the book The Orchid Thief. Adaptation was the movie.

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  8. Didn't know Hiassen wrote kids books, i bet they're great!! Love your vintage collection.

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  9. That's a blast from the past....very cool!

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    1. There's definitely nostalgia involved in my passion!

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  10. I collect these guides too. I only have 5 or 6 but I loved them as a kid. My parents had lots of them. I asked my mom the other day where they all went and she told me she had donated them to a school library. I was so sad. I thought they would always be there on their shelf.

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    1. One day the school will have a library sale and you'll get them back...

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  11. This is a wonderful collection dear Jen!
    ( and thank you thank you thank you for the book I found when I came back from my holiday!
    Such a lovely thought! )

    Good to be back and visit you again : )

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  12. ...I see you are also on pinterest! so I am following!

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    1. Welcome back! Following you on pinterest now--looking forward to exploring.

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  13. I love these too. I had no idea there were so many versions! You have a nice collection. Have a great week!

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  14. I have the old Plants one...with mushrooms on the cover. :)

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