Lucky Duck

I crane my neck at an odd angle, trying to read book spines of all different sizes. Kneeling down in the narrow aisles of the shelves, I look closer scanning the titles determining I am somewhere between history, transportation, and hunting and fishing. I am in a bookstore in Castle Rock Washington. As I often do when we travel I’ve sought out the local purveyor of used books, seeking hidden gems amongst the crowed and eclectic shelves.

On the bottom shelf were oversized coffee table books, one of my favorites. My eyes scan the rows looking not only at the titles, but the shape, and texture of the covers. Between a book on trains and a guide to fishing in Washington a larger volume catches my eye. It is a maroon leather-bound book with simple bronze engraved lettering. I slide the book from the shelf and turn it in my hands to read the cover. Sports Afield – Collection of Know Your Ducks and Geese by Shorts and Cartwright. I am not a hunter myself, but the simple leather cover has piqued my interest.

I open to the middle of the book and take in the large pages. The book is a collection of articles on North American duck and geese species. Each section consisted of two pages, one a full page reprint of a painting depicting a type of bird, both male and female. The other, semi-transparent vellum with facts printing on it including a migration map and distinguishing characteristics of the species. I slowly flip through a few more sections my curiosity continuing to grow. The book appears to be in excellent condition with none of the vellum pages torn or tattered.

I return to the front pages of the book to check the publication date. According to the forward the book was printed in 1948 as a compilation of magazine features from Sports Afield. Angus H. Short was commissioned to complete a series of full color paintings, while B.W. Cartwright the chief naturalist for Ducks Unlimited Canada provided the text. The series, which bared the same title as the book Know your Ducks and Geese ran in the monthly magazine for three years. 

With my excitement running high I search the covers for the price. Surely something this unique would command a price that I would have to consider. Hemming and hawing for an hour as we continued walking around town. I turn to the inside cover - $20. Twenty bucks! I almost run to the register to ask if it is a mistake. Did they not realize how cool this book is? I quickly remind myself that not everyone, well probably not even a few people would be as excited about a book on ducks and geese as I am in that moment. I calmly stand and walk to the register my new treasure find in hand. I thank the clerk and turn towards the door proud of my find. As we leave the store Dana looks with a smile that says you are an odd duck, but I love you.

The large book now sits on an antique sewing machine table in my office. In need of a break, I’ll pick the volume up and turn to a random section. Sometimes I’ll read the facts, others admiring the detail of the paintings. Sometimes I just admire the book itself, the uniqueness of the textured vellum, the fact that sometime painted each and every page. I hate to use the old cliché to summarize the book. Instead, a line from the book’s forward seems to capture it “Special care has been taken to ensure the reproduction of the natural colors with the utmost fidelity” Okay, okay they sure don’t make them like they used to.