Eric Sloane's ABC's of Early Americana: A Sketchbook of Inventions, Curiosities, and Lore

Noted artist Eric Sloane presents a rich and varied collection of American firsts—from the saltbox house to basketball, hex signs to ear trumpets, popcorn to rocking chairs. Niddy-noddy Jouncing seat Devil’s fiddle Velocipede Delightful words and even more delightful inventions, these curiosities and many others are vanishing antiquities of our country’s past of which few Americans are aware.

Taking his cue from early Americans’ interest in the lore and beauty of the English alphabet, S…