Artist and historian Eric Sloane presents a wondrous A-to-Z collection of American innovations, including hex signs, ear trumpets, popcorn, and rocking chairs. Illustrated, hand-lettered pages feature brief captions explaining objects' origins and uses. From Almanack, Bathtub, and Conestoga Wagon to X-Brace, Yankee, and Zig-Zag Fence, this sketchbook of antiquities revisits delightful words and inventions of old-time America. Artist and historian Eric Sloane presents a wondrous collection of American innovations , including hex signs, ear trumpets, popcorn, and rocking chairs. Readers of all ages will delight in these illustrated and hand-lettered pages, which feature brief captions explaining the items' origins and uses. Gadgets, gizmos, and contraptions include foot stoves, used in churches and under the blankets of sleighs and stagecoaches, oil lamps fed by whale oil and kerosene, water-wheels, weathervanes, and windmills (first built in Virginia in 1621 — a century later, there were nearly 1,000). The craftsmanship of the nation's early builders and inventors is reflected in this finely wrought compilation of historical curiosities.   Innovations Revisited: Delve into the charming world of early American innovations, from the practical ear trumpets to the quintessentially American creation of popcorn. Eric Sloane unearths a collection of American innovation firsts. - Art and History Combined: Experience history through Eric Sloane's unique blend of artistry and historical insight, showcasing hand-lettered and illustrated pages of America's past. - Antiques and Almanacks: Explore a collection that spans from the almanack (the most popular read of farmers) to the zig-zag fence, uncovering the delightful and obscure inventions and words that shaped daily life. - Gadgets and Gizmos: Discover the gadgets and gizmos of yesteryear, including foot stoves for warmth in churches and carriages and oil lamps lighting the way before electricity. - American Craftsmanship: Admire the ingenuity and craftsmanship of early American builders and inventors, whose contributions are meticulously compiled in this sketchbook of antiquities. - A Journey Through Time: Engage with American history in a novel way by learning about the origins and uses of items like hex signs, water wheels, and the first windmills built in Virginia in 1621. In this finely wrought compilation, the ABC Book of Early Americana , readers are invited to a remarkable journey through America’s inventive past. Eric Sloane's celebration of historical curiosities brings to life the spirit of innovation that continues to inspire American creativity and ingenuity today.   The books of Eric Sloane celebrate the time-honored traditions of early America and remind us of the ties that forever bind us to them. A prolific artist, Sloane created nearly 15,000 paintings and drawings over his lifetime, many of which enhance his delightful books of bygone days.