From the readers: Manning-Sanders, bus history & Beatles movies

Here's a roundup of comments that have been made on Papergreat posts this spring. Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts!

"A Book of Mermaids" by Ruth Manning-Sanders is back in print! Katie writes: "I was thrilled to receive this book for Christmas. Like you, I have been collecting these books in the last few years. I still have yet to find Magic Horses, Magic Adventures, Heroes and Heroines and Marvels and Magic at a reasonable expense. I loved reading these stories as a child, and vividly recall the ink artwork in the original publishings. I was disappointed to find these missing in the republished edition of Mermaids. Nevertheless, I hope that the trend continues so that many more can enjoy this wonderful collection of stories!"

Thanks for writing, Katie. I agree it would have been great to see the Robin Jacques artwork in the reprint, but I fully understand how the logistics (and cost) of that might have been prohibitive. Meanwhile, I think the four books you mentioned are the exact same "final four" that I had the most difficulty acquiring. It mostly just takes perseverance and a willingness to check Amazon, Alibris, AbeBooks and eBay on a regular basis. Almost everything will surface eventually at a fair price. Best wishes to you!

Mystery at Penmarth: a Ruth Manning-Sanders rarity: Thecheshirecat writes: "I have to say that the hardest of Manning-Sanders' novels to find and get copies of are Selina Pennaluna (1927) and Mermaid's Mirror (1935). Did you find these hard to obtain?"

There are still numerous Manning-Sanders books that I do not have — she was so prolific. Plus, for many years, I focused solely on her books related to folk and fairy tales. I do not have either of the books you mentioned, and I would fully agree that they are extremely rare. I don't think I've ever seen a copy of Mermaid's Mirror available anywhere. ... I do have Pages from the History of Zachy Trenoy, which has always seemed fairly scarce. I believe Run Away is fairly scarce, too. It seems like Manning-Sanders rarities would be a good topic for a future post.

Five cool things from 1935's "Elements of Business Training": A reader with the code name yc720_06 writes: "Google Pickwick Nitecoach for starters and if you can manage to find a copy of the periodical, Motor Coach Age, October 1972, published by the Motor bus Society, there's a whole issue devoted to 'Sleeper Buses and the Pickwick Stages System.' There were only four built of the type shown, which was of a slightly different design to the earlier three. Named 'Morpheus,' it was the fourth, but by no means the last, of a series of highly innovative designs patented by Dwight E. Austin, which culminated in the first bus with a transverse rear engine. Eight were built and Austin was hired by GM subsidiary Yellow Coach in 1934 for his unique 'angle drive' engine transmission patent. The rest as they say was history. Hope this helps."

Old postcard: U.S. Veterans Hospital 88 in Memphis: Anonymous writes: "This hospital was operated by the Veterans Bureau (1920-1930) before it was renamed the Veterans Administration. The number 88 indicated it was listed as the 88th hospital in the Veterans Bureau inventory. TC Mid-South Paralyzed Veterans of America Chapter Historian."

"I've Got My Beatles Movie Ticket...": Tom from the Garage Sale Finds blog writes: "Coincidentally, I just finished watching A Hard Day's Night today. I've always been a bigger fan of Help! (I know, sacrilege among Beatles fans) and had never watched A Hard Day's Night all the way through. Enjoyable, but I still have to go with Help! as the more enjoyable of the two. I guess because it has a more involved story line."

Full disclosure: I have never seen any of The Beatles movies. If I had to dive into that genre (no pun intended), I would probably start with Yellow Submarine, minus the LSD.

Ephemera for Lunch #21: Class photo on the outside steps: Anonymous writes: "G.B.Lohmuller is my grandfather. Bertie is his wife. One of the boys in the center looks JUST like my father so he has to be his father. My dad was born in 1926 so this is his father. So cool. Thanks so much for a wonderful surprise."

Classified advertisements from a 1932 issue of Hobbies magazine: Anonymous writes: "The A.H. Griffith in the text above was a noted scholar of Abraham Lincoln. Here is more information, and a photo of Albert H. Griffith: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&PIpi=155524550&PIgrid=92761663"

Straight Arrow Injun-uity card from Nabisco Shredded Wheat: Rod South writes: "I have a 28 book #1 set of the Straight Arrow cards and on the cover card it says a set of 28 cards, everywhere I look shows book #1 and #2 contain cards numbered to #36. These cards are from Canada and I'm wondering if the Canadian set was smaller?"

That's a good question, Rod. I don't know the answer, but I hope one of our readers might be able to help.

Delving into Henry K. Wampole & Company: Lyndigger writes: "I also am related to the Wampole name via George W. Wampole. Not sure if or how he was related to Henry Wampole. Also related to Shermerhorn. Interesting how these names were connected in history."

St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley: Anonymous writes: "The Rev. Frederick A. Breuninger, who drafted the original receipt for your family's burial plot on August 3, 1958, passed away in June of 1982. He is buried in the same cemetery. Source: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=125356031. When you next visit your mother, visit the Reverend as well. It would be an honor to them both, bless their memories."

I will definitely do that. Thank you so much for sharing this information.