While attending the American Library Association’s Midwinter Conference in Boston, Furman’s Special Collections Librarian and Archivist, Jeff Makala, made an exciting purchase for the library. At the Brattle Book Shop near Boston Common, on their outdoor sales tables no less, he found an 1801 nautical calculator for only $5. This fourth edition of Goodfellow’s Merchant’s and Ship-Master’s Ready Calculator, a book of nautical calculating tables, has two previous owners’ inscriptions, and is bound in calf. The boards were detached, so one industrious owner – quite possibly a sailor – used some cotton canvas or sailcloth and stitched up a book cover! Visit Special Collections and Archives, located on the top floor of the James B. Duke Library to see this interesting book. Special Collections and Archives is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday – Friday.
Nice score Jeff! Love the makeshift, but almost elegant book cover.