OK this is too wierd...
I was looking in that reader and realized it was printed by my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather, George Curtis Rand, of the printing firm George C. Rand & Avery. What are the odds of that?!!! I about fell off my chair when I saw it! George C. Rand & Avery seems to have been a large enough firm that had I looked online, I could have tracked down a book printed by him for sale online without
too much difficulty, but to have one given to me by a complete stranger when I wasn't looking for one of his books? I think the odds of that must be miniscule!
To think that his book would find me, 153 years later!! Whoa!
GOD I LOVE OLD STUFF!!!!
Here's his photo and a bit about the company from his obituary:
In 1842 he formed with Mr. Andrew Reid the partnership of Reid & Rand, at No. 3 Cornhill. The two partners constituted the working force, and a single handpress, with a small quantity of type, forming the plant. The firm shortly afterwards purchased The Sunday School Messenger, and later The Sunday School Teacher, both of the publications being sanctioned by the Methodist-Episcopal Church, and they were later on sold to the Methodist Book concern of New York City. At the end of three years, Mr. Rand purchased Mr. Reid's interests and continued under the firm name of George C. Rand & Co.
In 1852 he secured the printing of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the great demand for which necessitated constant enlargement of his facilities -- 800,000 volumes of these were printed at this time. The undertaking involved the running of the office night and day, requiring Mr. Rand's presence the greater portion of the time. Although the work at this time gave him a leading position in the trade, and was undoubtedly the foundation of much of his future success, yet it was gained at the expense of his health, and the overtaxing of his energies developed a physical trouble which for years rendered him a invalid, and which in the end materially shortened his life.
In 1854 his brother-in-law, Mr. Abraham Avery, was admitted to partnership, and from that date until 1867 the imprint of the firm name, George C. Rand & Avery, was known all over New England, and, in fact, in most of the cities of the east where books were published. The entire block, extending from No. 3 Cornhill to Dock Square, and from Cornhill to Brattle Street, a building six stories in height, was required for the business.
In 1867 the firm was changed to Rand, Avery & Frye, by the admission of Mr. Rand's nephew, Mr. Orrin F. Frye, and in 1871, following Mr. Frye's death, to Rand, Avery & Co., another nephew, Mr. John C. Rand, and a son, Mr. Avery Lewis Rand joining the firm. At this time Mr. Rand was compelled by ill health to retire from the active management of the business.
Photos of the books ASAP!!
