Obit: Dover Books founder Hayward Cirker

Subject: RE: Dover Books founder
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 04:29 AM

G'day Bob,

I'm listening to your Oz PM at Gallipoli on the wireless at the moment. Yeah, Dover Books were realistically priced in NZ too - and art was the other line I should have thought of. Actually, cobber, one of your Aussie publishers gets a mention on most of my bus tours. Two brothers of the Robertson of "Angus & Roberston" lived here for yonks. To the best of my understanding the original Stewart Island Library was primarily A&R books.

Get in touch if you want what info I have on George(?) Robertson.

CYA mate - Sam

Subject: RE: Dover Books founder
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 04:07 AM

G'day Okiemockbird,

From behind a pile about 2 feet high of Dover books (mostly illustration, but including an affordable Cecil Sharp and various 19th century music books) I have to say I am sad to hear of Hayward Cirker's passing. I could only look in amazement at the number of previously unobtainable books that Dover put out ... at about 1 book a day! (And they would accept suggestions for anything suitable.)

Back in the halcyon days we, in Australia, could buy their books at American cover price ... now about 2x.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Dover Books founder
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 02:54 AM

Thanks Okiemockbird,

No mockin' here. Hey, I didn't realise Dover were into PD music (or did I?) - haven't bought a Dover book since the 70s. They were all biologically oriented (or were they?). Goes to Folkin' section of bookshelf, and can't find a folkin' Dover one.

Anyway, jeffp, you are right-on about Cirker having the "Mudcat Spirit" - dammit, I can't recall the title, but it was about 2" fat - a wonderfully eclectic collection of DIY hints and tips about collecting mairne organisms, maintaining aquaria etc - must date back to the 50s. One of our marine farms still use my copy, I think.

Anyway, it was a wonderful wealth of information, sometimes hard to find - Just like Mudcat.....

HELP, just what is a Mudcat? This talk of marine zoology has me off on another thread.....;)

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Dover Books founder
From: jeffp
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 01:56 PM

Sounds like Cirker had the Mudcat spirit. I remember several Dover-published books in our house when I was growing up. Some of them were pretty bizarre, Little Jimmy poems and suchlike. I wonder whatever happened to them. I hope Dover will continue plumbing the Public Domain to increase the world's knowledge. Hayward, ya done good. We'll miss ya.

jeffp

Subject: Obiit Dover Books founder
From: GUEST,T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 11:06 AM

Here is the London Times obituary of Hayward Cirker, the founder of Dover Books, which publishes inexpensive editions of (among other things) much public domain music.

T.