John & Julia van Schaick bookplate and Sermon notes in a 1905 First Edition of "Eutychus and his Relations - Pulpit & Pew Papers" by Brooke Herford. The Schaicks Heroically Helped People in Dire Need in Belgium during WWI while serving in the Red Cross. John based some of his Sermons on this book and wrote on the front pastedown as well as some Marginalia in the text. Later Descendants Penciled an Inscription about him on the front pastedown.

Brooke Herford (1830 - 1903) / John van Schaick (1873 - 1946) Bookplate and Hand-Written Sermon notes

Edité par American Unitarian Association, Boston, MA, 1905

A propos de cet article

This book has 3 points of interest. The book is "Eutychus and his Relations - Pulpit and Pew Papers", issued posthumously in 1905 by the American Unitarian Association. The author was Brooke Herford, a very successful Unitarian minister, highly esteemed in his day. His church services were always packed for the interest in his sermons.

One interest is the bookplate : a joint plate for John and Julia Romaine van Schaick (pronounced van Skoik). They served in the Red Cross in the northwest corner of Belgium during WWI. That section of Belgium had not been overrun by the Germans, but was mercilessly bombarded. The van Schaicks tended to the wounded and maimed . and the dead. Their efforts were mountainous. They were not there in a ministerial role - but purely as a result of compassion for those who needed it. I read a letter wherein the tasks performed by Julia as a nurse's aide were listed . oh my! One thinks she had the fortitude and compassion of a Bodhisattva . She and her husband were heroic - especially Julia. A book was written about that corner of Belgium during the war by John van Schaick.

John van Schaick Jr. served as Commissioner for Belgium under the Red Cross. He was awarded a number of honors, including the Order of Leopold (Belgium's highest) . The example set by the van Schaicks helped form the direction of humanitarian services in the future (and especially at the end of WWII). The van Schaicks returned to America, where John once again became a Unitarian minister. We see from his front paste-down writing in India ink, that he based several sermons on the essays in this book. They are listed with reference to chapters in the book. he further wrote some brief marginalia concerning the sermons.

The inscription in pencil, above, I presume written by relatives of John & Julia who inherited the book, speaks in wonder that the man they knew - quiet and unassuming ". this mild old man .", could have written sermons of such strength. It's a fine bookplate, and the marginal notes and the sermon list seen on the front paste-down - also written by van Schaik, Jr. - and the penciled inscription (not identified) add to the richness of the book rather than detracting. This all done before their humanitarian service in WWI with the Red Cross.

John and Julia are buried in Cobleskill, NY.

TITLE : Eutychus and his Relations - Pulpit and Pew Papers
AUTHOR : Brooke Herford (1830 - 1903)
IMPRINT : American Unitarian Association
PLACE : Boston
DATE : 1905
EDITION : First Edition (originally, printed as essays in a periodical in 1861 - this is the First Appearance as a stand-alone title)
PROVENANCE ; From the collection of John & Julia Romaine van Schaick, with their joint bookplate, John's marginalia and sermon list . & the penciled inscription by (I assume) relatives)
STATUS : Out of Print - OP
DETAILS : Small hardcover book,(4 1/8" x 6 5/8"), dark blue cloth-covered boards & spine, with gilt lettering and embellishment to front and spine; top edge gilt; [120] pages.

CONDITION -- GOOD ONLY -- Rough from much use, but clean. Consider the provenance: previous owner's bookplate (the van Schaick's). The following noted:
EXTERIOR : Spine extremities compressed and frayed. A small number is written in white at the foot of the spine. Corners are bumped with attendant small splitting of cloth text-block edges are rubbed; surface rub , especially on the rear cover, is moderate. Gilt on spine and front cover is bright. Top text-block edge gilt is still fairly bright. Fore- and bottom text-block edges are toned, else clean.
BINDING : The book has seen much use and thus the text block is not as tight as when issued, opening widely and easily. No leaves are detached, or, for that matter none are loose.
INTERIOR : Inscriptions on the front paste-down, a few bits of marginalia. Scattered smudges and spots, a bit of foxing. Considerably used, but consider for what use it was put. A fully unique and valuable item.

N° de réf. du vendeur 3189

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: John & Julia van Schaick bookplate and Sermon notes in a 1905 First Edition of "Eutychus and his Relations - Pulpit & Pew Papers" by Brooke Herford. The Schaicks Heroically Helped People in Dire Need in Belgium during WWI while serving in the Red Cross. John based some of his Sermons on this book and wrote on the front pastedown as well as some Marginalia in the text. Later Descendants Penciled an Inscription about him on the front pastedown.
• Éditeur: American Unitarian Association, Boston, MA
• Date de parution: 1905
• Langue: anglais
• Reliure: Couverture rigide
• Édition: Edition originale
• État de l'article: Satisfaisant
• Dimensions: 10 L x 7 H x 3 P (en pouces) 10 pouces de largeur par 7 pouces de hauteur par 3 pouces de profondeur
• Poids: 1 livre
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Bookplates
  • Signed and Inscribed
  • Religion - Protestant
  • Obscure or Neglected Authors
  • Association Copies
  • Publishers' Trade Bindings