FACTS ABOUT CODE-APPROVED COMICS MAGAZINES (EPHEMERA)
Very Scarce! Comics Magazine Association of America, New York. First presumed. 32-page booklet. Published circa 1959 from evidence in introduction. A history and background of the first five years of the C.M.A.A. and the Comics Code Authority. This was the basis for the comics industry's program of self-regulation, which was instituted in response to everyone freaking out about the bad influence of comic books on innocent young minds. It was the fifties, people! Lots of very amusing (and defensive) topics headings, such as "Comics help develop reading habits in children" and "Character building values in comics magazines." Don't forget: "In every instance good shall triumph over evil and the criminal punished for his misdeeds."
CONDITION: Cover is a bit dirty and has two pencil streaks on the lower left (probably could be erased, but I leave that to you). Interior is crisp and clean with no marks of any kind by previous owner. $50 SOLD!

THE BLACK ARTS by RICHARD CAVENDISH (Book Club Edition)
G.P. Putnam and Sons, 1967. This book popularized the occult and magikal arts for a mainstream audience in the 1960s. Hard to believe that there ever was a Book Club Edition! A detailed account of the theory and practice and of witchcraft, demonology, astrology, and the other "black arts" throughout the ages. Covers Cabala pre-Madonna, Tarot, Devil Worship, Astrology, Ritual Magic, etc. It says that esoteric historian Richard Cavendish was "the son of an English clergyman". I'm sure Dad was just thrilled with this book!
CONDITION: Interior pages are clean and white with no marks or underlining. Cloth cover has some slight shelfwear. The dustjacket has wear and browning along edges and one-inch tear at top of front cover, as seen in photo. $12

MY ROYAL PAST by CECIL BEATON (aka BARONESS VON BULOP) (First American Edition)
The John Day Company, 1960. A delightful campy parody of regal reminiscences. This is Beaton's take on the innumerable memoirs published by minor European royals and aristocrats after the First World War. The photos are a howl. Beaton and friends posed, mostly in drag, as the unfortunate Baroness and her illustrious circle, which included such supposed luminaries as Prince Karl Schnor-Partenkirchen. The Spinal Tap of European Royalty. Still funny after all these years.
CONDITION: No dustjacket. Interior pages are clean with no markings. There is slight browning to page edges. Some foxing to the last ten pages or so and also the title page. Small price written in upper right corner of endpaper. A bit of foxing to lavander endpapers. Cobalt blue cloth cover has bumping to corners and wear to top and bottom of spine and along edges. $15 SOLD!

COMEDY MAGAZINE edited by John Robert Tebbel (Volume One, Number One)
Trite Expectations, 1980. B&W illustrations; 62 pages. I believe this was the first of two issue of this short-lived and obscure magazine. It was published by Martha Thomases and edited by John Robert Tebbel. There is a lengthy interview with Sid Caesar and a complete printing of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's "Who's On First?" routine. Also articles on Help! Magazine, Buster Keaton fans, and Jim Backus. There is a chart that summarizes the season's sit-coms--ones you might remember, like One Day at a Time and The Facts of Life, but also Pottsville and Here's Boomer. Huh?
CONDITION: Slight wear to edges. Wear and scuff on the back cover, which shows up because it is a solid black ad for National Lampoon. Interior is clean and crisp with no marks of any kind. $15

THE GREAT AMERICAN CHEWING GUM BOOK by ROBERT HENDRICKSON (First Edition)
Clinton Book Company, 1976. Stated First Edition. "The one and only history of the famous world of chewing gum from the jungle rubber tree to your bedpost overnight." An interesting history of the development of chewing gum and its appearance in American popular culture. Yes, the Doublemint Twins are featured. This is an excuse to use one of my favorite words...CHICLETS!
CONDITION: No dust jacket. Interior pages are clean and crisp with tight binding and no marks. Front endpaper has browned residue from a few price stickers. Some shelf wear to pink cloth cover. Bumping to corners (some have worn through to cardboard in spots). There are a few brownish smudges on the cover, as seen in photo. $8 SOLD!