July 2010

Book Review: The State of Jones

Purchase The State of Jones at Amazon now.

The authors of this Civil War historic book tell the story of Newton Knight, a Jones County Mississippi livestock farmer who led a movement to support the Union cause in the midst of Rebel territory. Great liberties are taken by the authors in telling the tale, giving a decided slant towards making him appear as a saintly hero instead of a traitor to the Confederacy. The Confederacy is also descirbed by the Harvard Professor and the Washington Post writer in a thoroughly negative light, while giving the Union a pass as pushing the South into the War as a matter of economic survival and states rights. The authors have stated that their purpose of the book was to "explode the generally accepted notion that all white Southerners were fully united in a desire to form a new nation". Knight fought some during the war on the Confederate side, then defected, marrying a former slave. At one point in the early 1920s before his death, the U.S. Census even recorded him as being black instead of white. The county of Jones it will be noted was decidely against seceeding from the Union, as most of the county farmers raised livestock instead of cotton and had little need for slaves. The book encompases some of the more gruesome aspects of the war, including the Siege of Vicksburg, covering a period of sixty years in the life of Newton Knight from pre-Civil War through Reconstruction. An interesting read for the historical aspects, but needs to be taken in context, as the authors clearly slanted the scope of the book and it was formulated for the clear purpose as a screenplay for a future movie.

Currently Reading: Getting America Right

Have been reading Getting America Right: The True Conservative Values Our Nation Needs Today. So far the 2006 book has been refreshing, with emphasis on practical questions to drive towards government being representative of what is in our Constitution and what our Founding Fathers intended.

The essential questions in the book that all Americans should ask from their government are:
Is federal action necessary?
Does this measure promote self-reliance?
Is it [fiscally] responsible?
Does it make us more prosperous?
Does it make us safer?
For any answers that are no, the programs should be not funded, canned, done away with.

Some of the grotesque ways that the U.S. government has expanded over the years, the waste, the graft of politicians getting rich from coddling with lobbyists and special interests are covered. Being written by the head of the Heritage Foundation one would expect heavy criticism of liberal programs by Democrats, which is included as well as the "borrow and spend" Republicans.

Unless you have been living in a cave, you realize that America today is seriously off the tracks. Our way of life is unsustainable. Runaway government spending and a resulting Federal budget deficit that is hovering at $13 trillion which can never be repaid have Americans on edge. The Federal Reserve bank continues to print money backed by nothing since President Nixon took us off the gold standard. Inflation has been a problem ever since. For good reason, the economy today is showing little results from "stimulus" packages and big bank bailouts, with unemployment at all time record levels, and the Obama Administration looking for ways to increase taxes in 2011 that will further hammer businesses, the Middle Class and the wealthy (who create the jobs along with small business).

America can be great again, but only with wisdom and integrity and a razor focus on accountability.
Read the book. Be fully informed. You will be like me and excited to vote come November.

Sports Illustrated 1954 First Magazine Issue Reprint with Baseball Cards Inside

Recently, we came across this issue that appeared to be the highly sought after collectible. After overcoming my excitement, I checked thoroughly online and found it to be a 2001 reprint.
Visit here for how to gauge the authenticity of the first Sports Illustrated.

Sigh... Be careful if you see an original being auctioned on ebay. Most likely it is a reprint and not the original that is being sold.
Our reprint issue is now sold.

On the cover is Eddie Matthews swinging at a pitch in a night game in the Milwaukees County Stadium. Inside are many interesting articles and unique ads, including a full page ad of Bob Hope golfing. Articles include Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles boxing, Miracle Mile at Vancouver - Roger Bannister, The Battle of the Bubble Gum - a 6-page foldout with trading cards (see below).

Includes:
#1 - Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox
#90 - Willie Mays - New York Giants
#32 - Duke Snider - Brooklyn Dodgers
#10 - Jackie Robinson - Brooklyn Dodgers
#15 - Al Rosen - Cleveland Indians
#2 - Gus Zernial - Philadelphia Athletics
#137 - Wally Moon - St. Louis Cardinals
#235 - Vern Law - Pittsburgh Pirates
#34 - Jim Rivera - Chicago White Sox
#9 - Harvey Haddix - St. Louis Cardinals
#7 - Ted Kluzewski - Cincinnati Redlegs
#77 - Ray Boone - Detroit Tigers
#30 - Ed Mathews - Milwaukee Braves
#85 - Bob Turley - Baltimore Orioles
#45 - Richie Ashburn - Philadelphia Phillies
#100 - Bob Keegan - Chicago White Sox
#6 - Pete Runnels - Washington Senators
#25 - Harvey Kuenn - Detroit Tigers
#4 - Hank Sauer - Chicago Cubs
#27 - Ferris Fain - Chicago White Sox
#119 - Johnny Antonelli - New York Giants
#26 - Ray Jablonski - St. Louis Cardinals
#29 - Jim Hegan - Cleveland Indians
#102 - Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers
#70 - Larry Doby - Cleveland Indians
#24 - Granny Hamner - Philadelphia Phillies
#40 - Mel Parnell - Boston Red Sox

Recent eBay listings of rare books, ephemera, and antiques

Here at Southpointbooks we have been busy going through our older inventory and listing some of our rarer items.

Of interest is our recent ebay sale of the rare 1902 book A Soldier's Honor. The book details the life of Confederate Major-General Van Dorn who had several campaigns in Mississippi and surrounding areas during the Civil War, and is written by his sister. Filled with fascinating family details and photos, read more about the interesting life of Emily Van Dorn Miller.


Our collections do not always just include new or rare books or magazines...

We recently listed several early kitchen items on ebay auction that we acquired from estate sales, including:
- a 1918 Universal Waffle Iron Maker by Landers, Frary & Clark
- a 1932 Waters-Gentner Toaster Art Deco Toastmaster 1B3
- a 1940s Wear-Ever Perculator (makes the best coffee/tea!)
- a 1930s Hankscraft Egg Cooker 794-B

We of course also have a wide selection of ephemera (vintage magazines, newspapers, brochures, pamphlets, owner's manuals) with interesting ads of a bygone era in America.

1964 Falstaff Beer Full Page Newspaper Ad - Still available. Contact us at bottom of page for details.

Attractive ad showing a man being offered a beer as he puts on ice skates. Original ad from the Shreveport Journal. On back of ad is the editorial page.

We also have available many town and county history books and old yearbooks available, including:

- History of Eastern Kerr County Texas (we have this available at a special limited time price on auction)
- History of Williamson County Texas (available at a special limited time price on auction)
- History of Josephine County, Oregon
- History of Luna, New Mexico
- History of Deadwood, South Dakota
- History of McCook, Nebraska
- Caney Valley Ghost Towns
- Texas Tech yearbooks
- History of Arizona State football

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Let us know here and we can notify you when we have available.