Farm Animals in the Making of America, by Paul C. Johnson. This book largely of illustrations and text material from old farm magazines, amplified by comment and reminiscences of the author who, while serving as editor and editorial director of Prairie Farmer from 1947 to 1970, had a golden opportunity to delve into the glorious past of American Agriculture, Prairie farmer, founded in 1841 and still going strong, has almost complete files going back to the date of its origin. But there were many others, such as American Agriculturist, still being published, Orange Judd farmer and The Cultivator, pioneer papers which have faded into history. I confess it was the magnificent hand done engravings in the old publications that impelled me to lift them out of the old files and make them available to today's readers. The plates were made out of wood, copper and steel for use with hand set type in printing the publications of the nineteenth century. They were painstakingly and beautifully wrought by artisans who worked mostly in the back rooms of magazines and newspapers. Considering the crude printing presses and primitive paper, the illustrations have held up remarkably well for 100 years or more. In addition there are some very good stone lithographs that were printed separately and used as frontispieces and inserts in publications of a century ago.I feel strongly that historically minded readers of today should have access to this gold mine of fascinating reading matter and superb illustrations. I have tried to pass on in this book some of the best of the engravings and most provocative of the ideas. This is a good time to study our past and understand better whence we came. Soft cover, 128 pages, 8" x 11". To Order By Phone Call Toll Free: 866-596-9982