An empty used envelope from 1909, got our Ernest Bell Library team talking a lot today. And the best part…… ……a tatty, but glorious, circa 1909 ‘Ingersoll family’ – ‘Anti-Vivisection Crusade’ Cinderella stamp, featuring a dog ‘sitting’ on a vivisector’s knife, has survived for 100+ years and is now in our Ernest Bell Library. ~ In philately, a cinderella stamp is “virtually anything resembling a postage stamp, but not issued for…
The Ernest Bell Library is holding 2 original copies of the book – ‘The Logic Of Vegetarianism : Essays And Dialogues’ / by Henry S. Salt. London : Ideal Publishing Union 1899 Physical description vi, 119 p. ; 19 cm. See the images below. I will firstly focus on one key section of the book, from page 11 – it is copied & transcribed below – Part of an 1899 discussion…
We could add many more links & notes to this blog piece. Vegetarianism, early veganism, the dawn of the animal rights movement, the roots of socialism, humanitarianism, the anti-vivisection movement, the suffragette movement, the anti-child labor movement & closely related causes, in 1880s & 1890s London, are most interesting topics to study. Probably 20% of our Ernest Bell Library collection is related in some way to these movements / causes…
Beans, Logic & Consistency The Roots of Veganism When reading these old texts, please remember that there were very few vegetarian / vegan eating places in those days. London’s first vegetarian restaurants opened in the 1870s. Gradual change was often advised in books / journals – firstly giving up eating the meat of land animals – then giving up eating fish – then leaving dairy & eggs. Intensive factory farming was not yet…
Here we reflect on some of our favorite early vegans (…..and aspiring vegans), and some of their writings / publications, where they discuss 100% perfectly consistent vegetable diets. Definitions of old terms are in green – debate welcomed! We also share some special items from our Ernest Bell Library. . 1886 Henry S. Salt – in his essay Food Reform – Published: Westminster Review, October 1886 “To Sylvester Graham, above all others, should perhaps…
Photo Credit – we will add as soon as someone claims it! Rynn Berry left us a year ago – January 9, 2014. Rynn was a great friend. He always enthusiastically answered our historical questions. He always gave us great support for our library / research projects – we exchanged material freely & often. Please enjoy 63 minutes of ‘classic Rynn’ – sharing his research & educating people. Non-violent eating!…
Vegan Slaughterhouse Reflections Notes – on a very enjoyable 30 minutes – spent here in the ‘Ernest Bell Library’ / ‘The Humanitarian League’ offices in Hong Kong – discussing: – Watermelons – the plant has been cultivated in Egypt since at least the 2nd millennium BC and by the 10th century AD had reached India and China. Wiki. Ernest H. Crosby – an American reformer and author – was President of the…
Deo Gratias = thanks be to god (any god). Grace = a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks From 129 years ago – here we have Henry S. Salt ‘spoofing’ a prayer – 6 verses attempting to make meat-munchers think / reflect. Verse 1 – refers to ‘meat’. Verse 2 – Oxen – over-driven, bruised, and sore – stumbling to the shambles’ door. (shambles = private slaughterhouse) Verse 3 –…
The article, the images & the quotes are all from books & magazines in The Ernest Bell Library. If anyone would like to help by either ‘Adopting’ or ‘Sponsoring’ items in the library, please be in touch. Photo – Ernest Bell – freeing a lark from a London market – perhaps in 1902 Ernest Bell – writing in the magazine – The Animals’ Friend – August 1921 ~ What we…
Even 100+ years ago many ‘vegans’ & other meat abstainers were campaigning for animal rights & against vivisection. Today we jump back to ~ 1911 to revisit…… ————————————– Two old postcards & Trans-Atlantic Co-operation Open the Doors!! New York Anti-Vivisection Society This first postcard promotes the New York Anti-Vivisection Society’s – ‘The Open Door’ magazine. Mrs. Diana Belais – launched the New York Anti-Vivisection Society in 1908 – an article – here. We…
More Etymology – Early Vegans (and Not) Josiah Oldfield & M K Gandhi – Milk & Egg Addiction Dugald Semple & Henry S. Salt Our predecessor humanitarians, vegans (and almost-vegans), anti-vivisectionists, animal rights activists, etc. have included some of the greatest minds of the 19th & 20th centuries. Here I reflect on a few of my favorite individuals – delightful mavericks. All of the printed items quoted / illustrated here are…
Let us seriously consider: – How to balance animal rights and animal welfare? First a quote from a 2014 book which I am very fond of – ~ I ask myself continuously how to balance the utopian vision of animal rights with the pragmatic politics of animal welfare. For the sake of the animals, I always take the side of rights over welfare; however, there are times, particularly in the political arena, when welfare…
Animals’ Rights Considered in relation to social progress – with a bibliographical appendix by Henry S. Salt. Published 1892 by G. Bell in London, New York . This is one of the most handled & most admired items in our Ernest Bell Library. ——— A contemporary review of the book Animals’ Rights The Times, October 27, 1892 Books of the Week ~ While the subject of vivisection is so…