Ernest J. Wessen was one of the legendary rare bookmen of the mid-twentieth century, and his letters, like his famous catalogs, "Midland Notes," are a treasure of Americana. Wessen s anecdotes of the chase, his wry comments upon collectors and fellow dealers (and, indeed, the world at large), his alternating moods of genial tolerance and peppery impatience with the scouts who brought him books and pamphlets all combine to give a wonderfully informative, useful, and fascinating compendium of rare book lore just as the title promises. Wessen s important role in building the famous Streeter...
Ernest J. Wessen was one of the legendary rare bookmen of the mid-twentieth century, and his letters, like his famous catalogs, "Midland Notes," are a...