Various (Robinson, Maurice R. (Editor); Alexanderson, E.F.W.; Coolidge, Calvin; Naismith, James; O'Neill, Eugene; Scott, Elizabeth et al.)

The Scholastic Vol. 12 No. 1 (February 4, 1928)

Pittsburgh, PA: Scholastic Publishing Company, 1928. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. This vintage number of the venerable "National Magazine for the Schoolroom," edited by Maurice R. Robinson, features an article entitled "Television In The Home Now"- "Now" being 1928! One Dr. E(rnst) F(rederick) W(erner) Alexanderson (1878-1975), a Swedish-American electrical engineer, pioneered a television system for the General Electric Company, two decades before TV became commercially available. The article features a photograph of Dr. Alexanderson gazing at the very small screen of his bureau-sized contraption (pg. 14). Also in this issue are articles concerning domestic & foreign American politics including as exercised by then-President Calvin Coolidge (pgs. 20-23); "The Origin and Growth of Basket-ball" by James Naismith, M.D. (pg. 7); "Girl Wins Shakespeare Design," (pg. 15) which relates that "English-woman, Miss Elizabeth Scott" was chosen as the architect for the now-iconic Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at the Bard's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon (attended by this writer in my travels); the tenth "Name Me!" contest which clearly is about the then-already-canonical American playwright Eugene O'Neill (pg. 25) & much more. With many contemporary ads that from our current perspective are now inadvertently humorous or ironic including "Mystic's "Queer Country" Packet!!" containing "Scarce stamps from...strange lands"(pg. 24) & "Do You Know-/ That you can spend a glorious three months'/ holiday in a trip to Sunny and Picturesque/ South Africa at a cost not to exceed $1080" (inner back cover). Magazine in stapled wrappers, presumed first-&-only printing. A most rare & fascinating time-capsule among collectibles. In relatively good-to-near-fine condition for such a fragile, near-century old periodical: Mild-to-moderate rubbing, scratching, creasing, light browning & occasional small spot-staining to front, back covers & stapled spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases, closed tears & chips at edges & corners of same incl. very slight loss of paper; extensive closed tearing through middle-to-lower portion of spine; light pencil (contemporary?) marginalia at upper area of front cover including a charming doodle in which the "O" in "SCHOLASTIC" has been turned into a smiling-faced sun with emanating beams; staples in process of rusting with minimal interior bleeding; moderate browning, rubbing to edges of text block. Interior generally near-fine with mild-to-moderate browning, light rubbing & occasional spotting to inner covers & page leaves; some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; pencil marginalia at blank upper margin of pg. 17 (part of a "Booklovers Map of America" spread). Good- Near Fine. [Item #5704]

Price: $100.00