Holiday Stressers

Happy Holidays! I do wish I had an unlimited inventory of pre 1800 maps of Charleston for under $400.00. I'm afraid most people don't have any idea how much maps cost. I do have many really beautiful ones $ 800.00 + and many funny and strange natural history prints. Why not give your love a butterfly or a small bird?
Blessings on everyone in this hard economy and best wishes for a strong and safe new year. Please help those I love find jobs to get thru these hard times and open our eyes to new creative avenues on how to create more for ourselves and others.
Laura

COSTA RICAN ADVENTURES

Well I’m back, and as always I had a FAB time. I’m not sure why it takes so long between trips. I should make myself go more often. I am a better person for it. I forget that there is a whole world out there other than this small world here in Charleston. I do have the financial responsibilities of the shop and worrying about who will take care of things at home. But hey no one else worries. It must be nice....

As I explained to the youngest of our travel party (nine total- spanning a 40 year age difference)
We had the Whole Package Tour! both good and bad. It was wonderful hearing her explain to her mother the concept of the Whole Package Tour. That in her getting bitten by fire ants made everything else better or more an adventure. We did get the Whole Package Tour. Incredible vistas, unbelievable flowers and plants, wonderful people, great food and cold cold cerveza! Then the not so nice, Worst roads I have ever seen, fire ants, bad water pressure, no hot water, loss of power for over 12 hours....(I will say it was in the other house not the guest house I was staying in)
More than one mishap with Europcar Rentals in San Jose... The other car , The one we rented from Europcar lost its brakes as we were going over the continental divide, yes, the car with the children in it... I hate to say say it but in the future I would tell everyone to avoid Europcar Rentals. One mishap is OK but the the whole trip it was one thing after another, no apologies, no explanations. I can go on and will if needed. Then as reported this morning ( some of the party is still there) There was a snake incident.

I can say I had some of the best laughs I have had in quite a long time and if you know me I love meeting new people so I was in my element. I do wish we could have found a Map shop or an Antiquarian Book Shop.
It is remarkable to think that so much of what we saw was illustrated here in my little print shop. Illustrated in the hundreds of Natural History engravings and lithographs, painted and printed over a hundred years ago by earlier eyes... eyes like ours seeing these plants and animals for the first time in life.....
The whole expedition, left to right- Steve, Tom, Alex, Julia, Laura
(Lisa's Sister), Maddy, Lisa, and Myself. I know I look out of sorts & mad. I wasn't .....just very hot. I have no idea where Sally, my sister was ...she was supposed to be in the picture. I'll see if anyone else took a better picture and post that one.

The Charleston Palmetto

A couple of years ago I started noticing the image of a Palmetto illustrated in quite a number of engravings of Charleston. I found it interesting, it was prominently displayed in a number of the engravings ...almost the most important character in the image. I can see from images where it stood and really am interested in where the iron railings have gone.


Here it is in a page from the Illustrated London News, dated February 2, 1861

“South Carolina, like the other States of America, has a well-known distinctive name, that of the “ Palmetto State,” a designation arising from the prolific growth of this species of fan palm in its marshy districts. The specimen represented in our engraving grows in the slave market of Charleston, within a stones throw of the Exchange and the Post Office. Thus a good deal of Southern life centers round it. An Iron railing preserves it in the midst of josling dealers, bidding eagerly for gangs of “ likely negros,” who's brawny arms seem just now more likely to be tasked in rasing defensive earthworks than in cultivating either cotton plantations or rice fields. ......”

The Palmetto State: This nickname refers to South Carolina's official State Tree, the Sabal Palmetto. The Palmetto is rooted in historical significance dating back to the Revolutionary War. On June 28, 1776, the British fleet's attack on Sullivan's Island was repulsed. The palmetto-log fort, under Colonel William Moultrie, withstood the barrage of British cannons until the fleet retreated. The Sabal Palmetto (Inodes Palmetto), commonly referred to as the Cabbage Palmetto, was added to the "National" flag of South Carolina, after it seceded from the Union in 1861. The Palmetto is South Carolina's official State Tree. It also appears on the South Carolina State Seal and in the salute to the flag of South Carolina written in 1950 by Mrs. John Raymond Carson and was adopted by the General Assembly in 1966: "I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."

The image of the Seal of South Carolina was published in Ballou’s Pictorial Newspaper in Boston Saturday, June 21, 1858.

The text reads "The shield on the left displays the palmetto tree, with fasces* at its base, surrounded by the motto,“ Animis opibusque parati” ( prepared in heart and deed) The other shield has a female figure holding a bunch of flowers encircled by the motto, “ Dum Spiro spero” ( while I breath I hope) The supporters are a Continentaller in revolutionary uniform, a figure of Liberty, with the phrygian cap and laurel wreath. Above is a figure of flame blowing her trumpet. Conspicuous over the state arms is the far-famed palmetto tree. A military parade parade is delineated in the distance....”
Harpers Weekly Published in New York, Saturday, December 1, 1860
From the images the Palmetto must have been near the corner of Broad Street and East Bay on the North West corner in front of where the Wachovia Bank stands now.

*Fasces: from the Latin word fascis, meaning bundle. symbolize summary power and jurisdiction, and or “strength through unity” The traditional roman fascis consisted of a bundle of whit birch rods, tied together with a red leather ribbon into a cylinder.

Spring diatribe...

It's coming... I feel it. It that time of year that what can only be described as the invasion of the Stupid people. I’m not sure who lets them out ... or if the heat just brings them out of their homes. They are not prepared for life outside, they haven’t done any preparation for a visit to the “big city” and have lost the ability to read and must have never had a lesson in proper topics of conversation and truly lost any reasonable thought at what not to wear. Yes, a diatribe from me......

First of all:

1. I don’t care who you are voting for or why you don’t like (blank).
Please... This is a place of business, I have tried to create a working space where people come to make decisions on how to better their surroundings in a beautiful or educational way. I was under the impression that our votes were private.

2. Don’t complain about our local government here in Charleston unless you actually live here and vote in local elections. If you don’t vote your opinions don’t count. If you live from off your opinions really don’t count.... do they ? !* See item #1

3. I don’t care if you lost your money in a gambling scheme ie: stock market. You were the gambler... you took the risks. It’s really none of my concern. I invest in Art.

4. The Sign on the door says Antique Maps & Prints. No where does it say anything about reproductions.

5. If you want reproductions.... look up reproductions in the phone book or look online. No, I don’t know who sells them. I don’t buy them.... so why would I know who sells them.

6. If you call with a question. All I know about is what is going on in my shop. I am not an operator, I don’t know the phone number for everybody in town. That is actually what Information is for. The phone number is 411.

7. Take the toothpick out of your mouth. I am at least 3 blocks from the nearest restaurant. You have had more than enough time to get the spinach out of your teeth and didn’t your Mom ever tell you it was improper to talk with your mouth full.

8. It’s Charleston, it’s after May, It’s HOT! Don’t complain. You did read the book. It is hot in the summer in the South. It’s always been hot. You can’t blame it on Global warming. If it is too hot stay at home in the air conditioning.

I can go on if you need me to..... You all know who these people are. I should get a hidden camera and play these episodes on Television. It would make for great reality television. The only question now is how I shut these people up before they say too much or before I insult their behavior.

Irrawaddy Dreams....

My heart hurts for the people of Burma .... Cyclone Nargis that devastated most of lower Burma and the Irrawaddy delta, May 3rd. will effect their lives for years to come if not for ever. The unfolding tragedy and unjust treatment of the people by the inapt military junta continues to dumbfound me.



I look back on my trip there in January -February 2004 with quiet memories.
Memories of the beautiful faces, their Faith constant in everything they thing they do. Their long history of oppression the hardships they have endured.


Rudyard Kipling's poem:

Mandalay

By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' eastward to the sea,
There's a Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me;
For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the temple-bells they say:
"Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!"
Come you back to Mandalay,
Where the old Flotilla lay:
Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,

An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
'Er petticoat was yaller an' 'er little cap was green,
An' 'er name was Supi-yaw-lat -- jes' the same as Theebaw's Queen,
An' I seed her first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,
An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on an 'eathen idol's foot:
Bloomin' idol made o'mud...
Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd..
Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed 'er where she stud!
On the road to Mandalay . . .

When the mist was on the rice-fields an' the sun was droppin' slow,
She'd git 'er little banjo an' she'd sing "Kulla-lo-lo!"
With 'er arm upon my shoulder an' 'er cheek agin' my cheek
We useter watch the steamers an' the hathis pilin' teak.
Elephints a-pilin' teak
In the sludgy, squdgy creek,
Where the silence 'ung that 'eavy you was 'arf afraid to speak!
On the road to Mandalay . . .

But that's all shove be'ind me -- long ago an' fur away,
An' there ain't no 'busses runnin' from the Bank to Mandalay;
An' I'm learnin' 'ere in London what the ten-year soldier tells:
"If you've 'eard the East a-callin', you won't never 'eed naught else."
No! you won't 'eed nothin' else
But them spicy garlic smells,
An' the sunshine an' the palm-trees an' the tinkly temple-bells;
On the road to Mandalay...

I am sick o' wastin' leather on these gritty pavin'-stones,
An' the blasted Henglish drizzle wakes the fever in my bones;
Tho' I walks with fifty 'ousemaids outer Chelsea to the Strand,
An' they talks a lot o' lovin', but wot do they understand?
Beefy face an' grubby 'and...
Law! wot do they understand?
I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land!
On the road to Mandalay...

Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,
Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;
For the temple-bells are callin', an' it's there that I would be..
By the old Moulmein Pagoda, looking lazy at the sea;
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the old Flotilla lay,
With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!

My Neighbors are back.

The same pair of Yellow Crowned Night Herons come back every year to make their nest in the oak... two trees down from the gallery here on Church Street.
They arrived last week on Tuesday and have been busy rebuilding their nest.
I showed the pair to , Robin & Jim Roberts a couple visiting here in Charleston, sailing their way up the coast. Here are some good close up photos they sent me of the nesting pair.

It is so wonderful to live in such a beautiful place and to surrounded by all the Natural History. A constant conformation of how what I do parallels what I see....Mark Catesby painted them while he was here in the Carolina Lowcountry the early 1700’s. ....Audubon's incredible image of the Yellow Crowned Night Herons and the detail or graphics of the feathers really is a great image.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy....

Hello, and welcome to my world. In the last couple of days the city has begun its transformation into summer. It is finally warm again a the humidity has begun to arrive... the salty smell of the pluff mud... and the thick odor of magnolia is in the air.... another Charleston summer.

Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky

But till that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by

Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

In the early 1920's, Du Bose Heyward wrote the book "Porgy" based on the comings and goings of the residents of 89 and 91 Church Street. The Building was commonly known at that time as Cabbage Row because of the cabbages grown in the court yard and sold on the doorstep. In Heyward's book the location of the building was changed to the waterfront and renamed the buildings as Catfish Row.

The Building has had a colorful history from being a tenement for many years, A much missed ladies dress shop, Porgy & Bess; and now the home for the last 7 years to Carolina Antique Maps & Prints at 91 Church. I moved the Print Shop from King Street in 2001. Next Door at 89 Church are Martine and Emilie Dulles of Dulles Designs
specialist dealers in fine stationery and gifts.

In the Book "Porgy", Heyward writes of Catfish Row:
" Catfish Row, in which Porgy lived, was not a row at all, but a great brick structure that lifted its three stories about the three sides of the court..... and pierced in its center by a wide entrance way. Over the entrance there still remained a massive grill of Italian wrought iron, a battered capital of marble surmounted each of the lofty gate-posts. The court itself was paved with large flag-stones, which even beneath the accumulated grime of a century, glimmered with faint and varying pastel shades in direct sunlight. The south wall, which was always in shadow, was lichened from pavement to rotting gutter;and opposite, the northern face, unbroken except by rows of small-paned windows, showed every color through its flaking stucco, and, in summer, a steady blaze of scarlet from rows of geraniums that bloomed in old vegetable tins upon every window sill.
Within the high-ceilinged rooms, with their battered colonial mantels and broken decorations of Adam designs in plaster, governors had come and gone, and ambassadors of kings had schemed and danced....