Tag Archives: collecting

Books

Book Buying


I’m a much happier person now, since I gave up trying to buy books on eBay.

If I do find a book on eBay (BUY NOW at $35.95)… I go straight over to abebooks.com to search for the same title.

This time, I was looking for a copy of “Shoe Repairing” by Henry Karg. At abebooks, I found multiple editions at reasonable prices for both hard and softcover copies.

I own one other shoe repair book. I picked this book because I want to read it’s advice on “The repairman as a businessman.” and…

Chapter 14: Operation and Maintenance of Shoe Machinery. (Including…curved needle stitcher, straight needle stitcher and patching machine) General operation, rules to observe, trouble chart, replenishing thread, causes or broken/stranded thread, and causes of broken needles.

I actually bought two copies… one 1947 edition and another 1975 edition. (I want to see if there are any differences between the two.) I paid less for my two copies, then the one on eBay.

Do you need a copy of that old Texas Boot Book?

Cowboy Boots

Vintage Cowboy Boots with an Eagle Inlay

“Eagle boots” were insanely popular during the early 1950’s. In large part because of the patriotism and prosperity our country felt following World War II, but also because of big western stars like Roy Rogers (remembered for his wide-winged eagle inlays in red, white and blue.)

Pictured here is a great pair of vintage boots. The eagle is made by overlaying leather in two colors, gold and green…on top of the boot’s white vamp. This is the best “eagle toe” I have ever seen. [zoom]

What makes it so great?

  • The cut-outs mimick the shape of the boot’s toe…going from wide to narrow somewhat gradually.
  • The toe design is bold to balance the heavily inlayed top and mule ear* …even without the bird’s head, the overlay makes a great “wing”tip.
  • The eagle’s head sits well above the wrinkles across the vamp at the boot. It’s unfortunate how often wrinkles and folds wreck the detail of the beak and eye.
  • The row of yellow stitiching provides a nice sharp outline. Even after all these years.


Remember! An eagle on a toe of a boot does not need to be an exact match for the eagle on your boot top.

On this pair, the bird on the toe has narrow wings that reach high over his head. The eagle on the top has widespead veined wings, almost like a butterfly.

(* You get to see the entire boot in April 2007 when my book comes out.)

Photos by Jennifer June.

Boots belong to Karen Robinson.

Cowboy Boots

Art of the Boot (in paperback)

Time to take your copy of Art of the Boot off the coffee table… and tuck it into the bookshelf. This hardcover classic is now out of stock and out of print.

Art of the Boot is now available in paperback and priced at $15.72 (That’s less half it’s previous cover price.) This book’s full color pages measure a generous 8½ x 10½” …which means the Jim Arndt photos inside give you details so clear …you can count the rows of stitches on nearly every pair!

Originally released in 1999, this book profiles 28 of America’s finest bootmakers, and includes examples from the work of many others. The cowboy boots were borrowed from museum and personal collections, and this book allows us a rare chance to stare, ponder and admire these intricate designs.

You can read a sample chapter of this book by visiting the Texas Monthly website.

Stay on the lookout. There are often reasonably priced hardcover editions of Art of the Boot available from Abebooks.com… or for for something truly special, contact Back at the Ranch which often has signed copies of Tyler Beard’s books.

(The page shown below is a peek at the signed copy Tyler sent me.)

P.S. The book How The West was Worn is also in paperback. (Click here for more great books about cowboy boots)

Books

Don’t you love surprises?



Recently, I bought a copy of Miss Enid: The Lady Texas Bootmaker. I paid $30 ‘cuz it was rumored to be hardcover with its paper dust jacket still in very good condition.

When I got it I found it had been signed by the author, Dale Terry… also inside was a little slip of paper with Enid Justin’s signature. Wow! (zoom)

Miss Enid founded the Nocona Boot Company in 1925… staying put in Nocona, Texas when her brothers took Justin Boots to Fort Worth. She ran Nocona Boots straight through wartime shortages and two failed marriages …and yes, with every divorce sprang a new cowboy boot business competitor. (Okay, the gossip is about 70 years old now, but it sure is a good read.) Miss Enid was a brave and remarkable business woman.

With only a thousand copies printed, don’t feel left out. Ask you local librarian if she/he can track down a copy for you.

While writing my book, I’ve rediscovered the power, economy and efficiency of the interlibrary loan. Books, past magazine articles…because you can’t find everything you need on the web.

Gotta go, I’m off to the library.

Reference: JUSTIN, Enid, and Dale TERRY. Miss Enid: The Texas Lady Bootmaker. Austin: Nortex Press, 1985