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Book Antiquities

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Gershwin, Feb 24, 2010.

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  1. Gershwin

    Gershwin F1 Veteran

    Feb 21, 2005
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    #1 Gershwin, Feb 24, 2010
    I have gone through some old books of mine - primarily mid-19th century handed down within my family. One book in particular is Dugald Stewart's "Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind." Not exactly light reading.

    It has a published date of 1813 and is quite old/original. The interesting aspect of this hard bound 300 page book is the "s" throughout is typed as an "f." Further complicating a sturdy subject matter.

    My question is how is it that a book published even then could have had such an error? or is it not an error?
     
  2. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
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    #2 Fast_ian, Feb 24, 2010
    It's not an error.

    IIRC (and I may not!), it was something to do with the printing presses of the day - An "s" was too wide and bled into other characters, so they used an "f", with an extra line through it? (Almost an italic "f"?)

    I think.....

    cheers,
    Ian
     
  3. JamesSimpson

    JamesSimpson F1 Rookie

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    #3 JamesSimpson, Feb 24, 2010
    funny you ask, I was watching that show "PAWN STAR'S" where a historical document expert came on to verify some document some guy wanted to sell.

    And i'm not 100% on the explanation but he said it was not a error, damn I wish I could remember the explanation!!!
     
  4. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
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    #4 El Wayne, Feb 24, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2010
  5. Gershwin

    Gershwin F1 Veteran

    Feb 21, 2005
    6,415
    Kentucky
    #5 Gershwin, Feb 24, 2010
    Fascinating, I now know where Mel Blanc got his voice for Elmer and Sylvester.
     
  6. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    #6 Jedi, Feb 24, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2010
    My contribution to "book antiquities" would be finding an obscure book called
    "Physics of Meteors in Flight" published by Ernst Opic, a physicist in the
    1950s - less than an inch thick, just larger than a paperback. Found it in the
    "free" bin in front of a bookstore in Port Townsend, WA - sold it shortly thereafter
    on eBay for $375!!! in a frenzied bidding war. Granted, it was a first edition.
    But still... not exactly riveting reading - maybe for an astrophysicist :)

    Surprised the bookstore didn't do better research before tossing it out in the free
    box (did buy several books in the store, so my conscience is mostly clean :) )

    Antique books can be fun :D

    Jedi
     

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