New York: Doubleday. Hardcover. 2010. First Edition (stated) / full number line. Near Fine book in a Fine jacket. Spine ends bumped. Interior pristine. Cover clean and bright. Not from a library. No remainder mark. Not clipped. One night in the late 1930s, in a bar on the Illinois-Iowa border, John Vincent Atanasoff, a professor of physics at Iowa State University, after a frustrating day performing tedious mathematical calculations in his lab, hit on the idea that the binary number system and electronic switches, combined with an array of capacitors on a moving drum to serve as memory, could yield a computing machine that would make his life and the lives of other similarly burdened scientists easier. Then he went back and built the machine. It worked. The whole world changed. Why dont we know the name of John Atanasoff as well as we know those of Alan Turing and John von Neumann? Because he never patented the device, and because the developers of the far-better-known ENIAC almost certainly stole critical ideas from him. But in 1973 a court declared that the patent on that Sperry Rand device was invalid, opening the intellectual property gates to the computer revolution. Jane Smiley tells the quintessentially American story of the child of immigrants John Atanasoff with technical clarity and narrative drive, making the race to develop digital computing as gripping as a real-life techno-thriller.
Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press. May 1998. Hardcover. Signed by the author. First Edition/second printing. Very Good book in Fine jacket. Binding is square and tight. Interior is pristine. Corners are sharp. Cover is clean and crisp. Foxing to edges. Not from a library. No remainder mark. Not price clipped. 207 pages. Since his marriage to an Iowan, Richard, Lord Acton has divided his time between England and Iowa. Much of his American life is spent writing the historical studies and whimsical observations of the worlds around him that have endeared him to Iowans. This collection of Acton's essays reflects the rich diversity of the author's interests and experiences. The first chapter, "Finding Myself in Iowa, " concerns the author's attempts to discover what on earth he was doing in the heartland of America and his growing affection for his adopted state. "London Bridges" describes something of the other half of the author's life in "the greatest city in the world." Other chapters invoke a southern African childhood, surprises in the House of Lords, fascinating fragments of Iowa's past, and why "power tends to corrupt."
Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press. May 1998. Hardcover. First Edition/second printing. Fine book in a Fine jacket. 207 pages. Since his marriage to an Iowan, Richard, Lord Acton has divided his time between England and Iowa. Much of his American life is spent writing the historical studies and whimsical observations of the worlds around him that have endeared him to Iowans. This collection of Acton's essays reflects the rich diversity of the author's interests and experiences. The first chapter, "Finding Myself in Iowa, " concerns the author's attempts to discover what on earth he was doing in the heartland of America and his growing affection for his adopted state. "London Bridges" describes something of the other half of the author's life in "the greatest city in the world." Other chapters invoke a southern African childhood, surprises in the House of Lords, fascinating fragments of Iowa's past, and why "power tends to corrupt."
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Armstrong's Department Store. Date unknown. Staple-bound pamphlet. Fine. Cover and internal pages are tightly secured by two staples. Interior is clean and unmarked. 45 pages. A cookbook assembled by the Handbags and Hosiery Associates of Armstrong's Department Store. Contents include Appetizers, Soup, Salad, Main Dishes, Breads, Desserts, Cookies, Coffee Treats, and Miscellaneous.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Armstrong's Department Store. September 1973. Comb-bound paperback. Very Good. Interior is unmarked; no evidence of prior use. Suitable for gifting. 78 pages. A cookbook produced by the Associates of Armstrong's Department Store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Contents include Breads; Casseroles; Desserts and Holiday Favorites; Main Dishes; Salads; Sauces, Salad Dressings, Pickles and Relishes; Vegetables; and Odds and Ends.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: The Westminster Presbyterian Church Women's Association. September 1976. First Printing (stated). Comb-bound. Very Good. 208 pages of recipes including index. The recipe for carrot cake has pen & ink notations from a prior user, otherwise the interior is clean. Contents include Appetizers and Beverages; Bread, Rolls, Coffee Cakes & Muffins; Cakes, Frostings & Candy; Cookies & Bars; Pies, Desserts & Pastries; Meats, Poultry, Fish & Casseroles; Salads & Dressings; Vegetables; Potpourri; and Best of the Past.
Ames, Iowa: Agricultural Extension Servi. 1944. Pamphlet. Good. A World War II era how-to guide for canning fruits and vegetables. 14 pages . Interior is unmarked. Iowa State College, Agricultural Extension Service, Pamphlet 88 .
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Guaranty Bank And Trust Comp. 1993. Comb-bound paperback. Fine. Appears unused. 92 pages of recipes from the staff and customers of the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa celebrating 60 years in business. Contents include Appetizers, Relishes & Pickles; Soups, Salads & Sauces; Main Dishes; Vegetables; Desserts; and Beverages, Sandwiches & Miscellaneous.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Iowa Electric Light and Power Company. No Date; likely c.1975 when the Iowa Electric Light and Power Company needed to increase revenues to pay for its new nuclear power plant. Comb-bound paperback. Fine. Cover shows very light shelfwear. Interior is unmarked. Suitable for gifting. 78 pages. A book of holiday recipes and and electricity-consuming project ideas assembled by the Home Services Department of the Iowa Electric Light and Power Company. Most recipes include a microwave oven cooking option (cook with electricity!).
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Sanitary Farm Dairies. 1938. Staple-bound pamphlet. Very Good. Stunning 32-page 1938 cookbook from the Sanitary Farm Dairies featuring hundreds of classic recipes using dairy ingredients. Every page is illustrated with a black & white drawing. Produced by the Jeffress Advertising Bureau of Chicago. Contents include Appetizers; Soups; Stuffings; Meats; Poultry; Fish; Eggs; Meat Stretchers; Meat Substitutes; Breads; Salad Dressing; Salads; Sauces; Beverages; Hot Puddings; Cold and Frozen Desserts; Desserts; Cakes; Cookies; Pies; Vegetables; Sandwiches; Candies; and Menu Suggestions.
Des Moines, Iowa: Meredith Publishing Company. Eighth Printing, October 1934. Looseleaf Binder. Good. Contents: Appetizers, Beverages, Breads, Cakes, Candies, Canning, Casserole Dishes, Cheese Dishes, Chicken, Cookies, Desserts, Egg Dishes, Fish, Game, Hostess, Meat, Menu Planning, Nutrition, Pickles, Pies, Preserving, Salads , Sandwiches, Soups, Vegetables, and The Hostess. Includes information on the Better Homes and Garden's Recipe Endorsement Service and how to get your recipes endorsed.
Iowa City, Iowa: Penfield Press. 1983. Staple-bound pamphlet. Fine condition. Cover and internal pages are tightly secured by two staples. Internal pages are clean; no rips, tears or writing noted. Fully illustrated. 64 pages. This booklet explains the Amish and Mennonite cultures centered in Kolona, Iowa. The booklet contains many recipes and photographs of beautiful country scenes, the booklet as well a recipes.
Des Moines, Iowa: Better Homes and Gardens. 1999. Paperback. Fine condition. Contents: Cookie Basics, Drop Cookies, Bar Cookies, Cutout Cookies, Shaped Cookies, Sliced Cookies, Kids' Cookies, Special Day Cookies, Old World Cookies, Recipe Index.
