Antique Books

[BettyLouSpence]

Ok, I read the book. If you care about being spoiled or anything, don't read the below. But if you really wanna know what happens...

The first 3/4 of the book consists of Nella Moreland telling her life story and rise to movie stardom, and she constantly refers to an Annette Wilkins. She's an orphan from Pittsburgh with a natural talent for the piano and as a result is hired as a movie theater pianist. Matinee idol Roland Welles makes a personal appearance at the theater and Nella falls in love with him. She wants to become a famous movie actress but is told by the X— Studio to get her start in stage acting.

Nella is sent to the Henry Irving Theater on recommemdation from Roland. After the manager (who she calls Beaver-Face) sexually harasses her, she leaves and wanders New York desperately searching for an acting gig, but is constantly turned away. She meets Roland again, who's now a director, and after a walk by the cliffs they kiss. He wants her to play a part in his picture where she kisses an actor. She fails as she cannot think of kissing anybody but Roland, who is disappointed, and she leaves the studio.

She wanders New York penniless and hungry again, and is directed to an artist who needs a model with some acting ability so he can illustrate a magazine story. She does a great job and is picked up by H—, a director at Y— Studio. She plays in many pictures there and H— falls in love with her but her heart still longs for Roland, despite his being a total cad. She does her own stunts involving trains and planes and after she's filmed saving a random child from a real tenement fire she shoots to super stardom.

Nella is done talking about her past. She now tells her story as it's happening. It's September now (she started her entries in April). She is currently the most popular actress in the country, and she tells how that night she was voted Movie Queen of America. Annette Wilkins is revealed as an aspiring starlet that Nella and H— take a liking to, but Annete has fallen for Roland. As a result Nella doesn't want her on. Y— Studio is shooting a picture by the sea shore but she asks H— to shoot by the river, because she knows Roland and his company will be there. She gets revenge on Roland (via the "oh... do I know you?" cattiness route, lol) because he was such a cad who cruelly played with her heart, and she realizes she loves H—. The Y— Studio takes Annette, who is now safe from Roland.

In the postscript she and (presumably!) H— meet in her doorway and they embrace. The end.

[Kitty]

I got 5 new books today! So excited! I'll send photos soon.

[Kitty]

Here is a quick photo of the 5 books I got yesterday. My favorite is the one in the middle. It is from the 1870's/80s I believe, though I need to do about more research to be sure on that. There is no date on it, because British publications often did not include a date, and it is a British publication.

Edit: After doing some research, and also looking in the back of the book at the advertisements, I think this book is 1872/3.

[donnie]

Good finds! That Shakespeare cover looks very familiar to me. I think I at one time had a copy of one of the plays in that same series.

[Kitty]

Good finds! That Shakespeare cover looks very familiar to me. I think I at one time had a copy of one of the plays in that same series.

Yes, I have a couple others that look like that. I got it to add to that collection.

[dachshundonstilts]

Yes, I have a couple others that look like that. I got it to add to that collection.

I'm sure I have something or other from that series.

That middle one is beautiful! And it doesn't even look like a particularly important book, which makes the design and workmanship all the more impressive.

[Kitty]

That middle one is beautiful! And it doesn't even look like a particularly important book, which makes the design and workmanship all the more impressive.

There is a picture on every other page of the My Pet's Album. I'm so excited about it. Here are some samples.

[donnie]

Aren't those beautiful illustrations! What exquisite detail. I especially like the one of the young girl writing.

Below the signature on the last one—is that 1871 or am I imagining it?

[Kitty]

Aren't those beautiful illustrations! What exquisite detail. I especially like the one of the young girl writing.

Below the signature on the last one—is that 1871 or am I imagining it?

Yes, 1871. My book is from 1872. I figured it out from the ads in the back of the book.

[donnie]

Yes, 1871. My book is from 1872. I figured it out from the ads in the back of the book.

What kinds of ads are there? I.e., what kinds of products are being advertised?