The decorating section had already been cleaned out and all of the 1970's issues of Good Housekeeping had been taken. But I walked over, and there, in all of its silver-edged glory, was a 1939 first edition of Dorothy Draper's Decorating is Fun.
I had found a copy a little over a year ago, but this edition is different. It is on heavier paper and has a silver-edged spine. Unfortunately, neither copy has the original dust jacket. 
I know you're all just terrifically jealous of my good luck at Book Thing, so I am going to give one of you my original 1939 first edition copy of Decorating is Fun. If you're interested in winning this book, just post a comment and on Friday, Connor the wonder dog will tap out the winning comment number with his tail.
I did also find some other interesting books including Meubles & Ensembles (Pieces of Furniture & Units) Style 1900, filled with loads of photographs of Art Nouveau-style furniture. It was published in 1968 by Éditions, Charles Massin, and is all in French. 
Don't forget to enter your name to win the Decorating is Fun book!
Book Thing. I need to go there.
ReplyDeleteOh I would love to own that book!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic find! I saw the Draper exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt a few years ago and it was great! I also remember, when I first started working at the Met in 2001, the then cafe in the Roman galleries, which still had the original draper white chandeliers - one of them was later at the Cooper Hewitt exhibition and I finally got to see what the cafe had looked like when Draper decorated it! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou have the best of luck there! Congrats!! Sign me up for the give-away! How exciting :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! That's the book that got me started with my love of design. (I've already got a 1st edition copy, so no need to enter me in the contest!)
ReplyDeleteBut I do now want a copy of the French book- I'm off to look for one now!
What a find! Please sign me up!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, we are all envious of book thing - but keep showing us your finds, it makes me feel like I was there.
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a great book!! Can never have enough design books :)
ReplyDeleteWow - what a find - that is so great - and even better way of getting to it!
ReplyDeleteOooh, sign me up! I'd love a copy.
ReplyDelete-Lana
Sounds like the book nearly jumped right into your hands - it was meant to be!
ReplyDeleteVery generous. Sign me up too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a find! I hope Connor likes to wag his tail lots and lots because I am near the bottom of the list...my husband and son went last weekend and came back with arms overloaded. I hope to get there this weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh, she's right, decorating IS fun! Edward sends greetings to Connor!
ReplyDeleteBarbara... there's always something for everyone at BT, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteDoes it help if I tell you that the post was written on my birthday? Or that D.D. Is one of my heroines? Or....that I'm pretty cute? And kinda funny? Come on.....that's all of the competitive edge I've got! Haha!
ReplyDeleteSmackers,
Andrea V.
Oh Andrea... it all depends on Connor the Wonder Dog, who sleeps on his back. With his hind legs against the wall. It's his pick!
ReplyDeleteSo many books, so little room....Any suggestions for creative/attractive storage when design library runneth over?!
ReplyDeleteOoo, me...me! That's so nice of you to do that!!
ReplyDelete~Kate
Sign me up.
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish we had a Book Thing nearby!
ReplyDeleteswdesign, there are so many great ways to do books. They even look in stacks on the floor or as a support for shelving. Have fun deciding.
Include teaorwine, please!
ReplyDeleteSign me up, please. I have six weeks of non textbook reading and I would love for this to be in the mix.
ReplyDeleteI love this book, (and I already have it, so I won't sign up for your great giveaway). Every piece of advice is still useful today. I also have the companion book Entertaining Is Fun! It has a cute pink polka dot cover, and the two books look so cute together!
ReplyDeleteWhat a find!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't resist throwing my hat in properly. It would look perfectly at home on my newly installed and painted family room shelves!
ReplyDeleteI also live in Baltimore... and I am a designer. Since we recently moved , I suspect that you may have some of the books that I donated to Book Thing! I enjoy your blog so very much. I do not have a copy of the D. D. book, however!
ReplyDeleteI love Dorothy Draper! I once stayed at the Greenbrier and was in heaven!
ReplyDelete