The Story of Margarine

Before we get to the main topic of today's post... Today is the last day of Columbia's fiscal year. I happen to have one vacation day left that I will lose if I don't lose. Instead of work I shall go office chair shopping, see if the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park has opened a day early, take a bike ride or otherwise enjoy the beautiful day, and finish up with Aimee Mann's concert this evening.

Now onto today's spread. Finding a book like this one, along with The Tin Drum by Gunther Grass, that I found lying on the sidewalk in the Village makes my day.

The Story of Margarine by S. F. Riepma, "one of the country's leading experts on margarine". Riepma was president of the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers (NAMM) from 1951 through at least 1970 when the book was published. Sadly, the NAMM website contains no mention of Riepma.

The book looks like a standard history of an industrial product. It sells for between $7.95 and $26.95 on bookfinder.com. I look forward to reading it!

The best part of the book so far, though, are the inscriptions. Inside the front cover it is written

April 30, 1985

Peter,

Congrats! What a full circle. This book helped me in '72.

Best,

Alan

I have been honored to have you work with me.

Flip to the inside the first page and you'll see:

April 30, 1986

Jack,

Passing down a tradition. The Best of Luck!

Alan

Too cold! Alan give Peter the book. Peter disses Alan, either by leaving it behind when he leaves or returning it to him. Alan, ticked at Peter, gives the same book to Jack exactly one year later with a terse, joyless inscription! Did Jack keep the book for the last eighteen years? Did he give it back to Alan?

Comments

[Marie Carnes]

Very cool. I love that you found the book and "blogged" it on the web. If (Mr.?) Riepma were taking on this endeavor today, instead of a book, or better yet, as an accompaniment to his book, he might have a speciality weblog called "The Margarine Blog." Only question, would Peter, Alan and Jack be banned from the comments.

[joe]

Thanks! My dream of course would be for any of the three to read this page and tell us their side of the story.

[jan]

So, just what is the history of Margarine? Looking forward to the deep insights of margarine VS. butter debate. Or is there one anymore??

[joe]

Yes, well, I've been skimming through the book and it is much more interesting than I would have thought. Once I get through the book I'm currently reading I'll start on the Story of Margarine and post chapter summaries here.