Product Description

The perfect hands-on gift for ’Ologists! Learn the keys to cracking secret codes — and use cool stationery to send missives to your friends.

If your aim is to master dragon runes, this ornate writing kit includes everything you’ll need. Inside are simple instructions as well as writing paper, envelopes, postcards, and sticker sheets, all in a handsomely designed slipcase.

Each kit contains:
- Code-making instructions
- 16 sheets of notepaper
- 16 envelopes
- 6 postcards
- 2 sheets of stickers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55308 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-09
• Released on: 2007-10-09
• Format: Box set
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780763636890
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Dugald A. Steer, Editor: "With what trepidation I sat down to give my editorial attentions to what was clearly the masterwork of a very erudite man, should be obvious to all who read this book." So begins a letter, written in 1894, from Dugald Steer to an Oxford friend. The letter goes on to explain how a chance meeting with Dr. Ernest Drake at the BULL'S HEAD TAVERN in Dorking, Surrey, made him more than a little curious. Skeptical at first, he took up Dr. Drake's offer to meet him at his house and St. Leonard's Forest, and to attend one of the S.A.S.D. meetings in London. There, he became further involved in Dr. Drake's work, joining him on an expedition to Scotland to try and estimate the hunting range of the Dornoch Wyrm. As he writes, the trip was, "a cause of some emotion, as many of my relative, particularly the Ross branch, come from so near."

Douglas Carrel, Chief Draughtsman: A native of Scotland, Douglas Carrel was clearly a dragonologist of some standing, and often accompanied Dr. Drake on some of his more fruitful expeditions. In a letter from Constantinople to the editor he says, "It is with considerable sense of honour, and no small amount of pride, that I lend my hand to the compiling of this most worthy volume . . . Ultimately, I feel that all of us—within this privileged circle in particular—are duty-bound to preserve and perpetuate the love and lore of dragons."

Helen Ward, Scientific Artist: Helen Ward trained as an illustrator at Brighton School of Art, although it is not known exactly when she came into contact with Dr. Drake. However a quote from her autobiography makes some things clear: "As a child I dreamed of dragons. When age allowed, I traveled. Unfortunately, several expeditions to Europe and one to that part of Russia known as Finland specifically to capture the likeness of a live dragon have ended in failure. The creatures seemed deliberately elusive . . .. With the help of descriptions, notes, and detailed drawings made by others I have managed to illustrate these majestic creatures to the satisfaction of those more fortunate and better-informed dragonologists."

Wayne Anderson, Pictorial Artist: Interested in cryptozoology from an early age, Wayne Anderson first came into contact with S.A.S.D. at one of their meetings in Wyvern Way in London. It was after a couple of trips with Drake—to the Alps in 1878 and to Scotland in 1880—that Wayne realized his early dragon drawings were, in fact, more life-like than he could have realised. Like most of the other collaborators on DRAGONOLOGY, he has contributed to many other books for children. He enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with Helen Ward that resulted in books such as THE TIN FOREST and THE DRAGON MACHIINE.

Nghiem Ta, Artistic Direction: Dr. Drake met Nghiem Ta in the Fukien (now Fujian) Province of China where she was working in her grandfather's bookshop. Their shared interest in dragons became evident when he showed her a copy of the fabled DRAGON SUTRA of Hong Wei, which the monks of that monastery made for him as a gift. He asked Miss Ta if such a revered object could be bound into a book and was so impressed with her work that he later invited her to London to oversee the creation of DRAGONOLOGY.

Customer Reviews

My Nephew loved it!
I ordered this for my nephew as a christmas gift and he was absolutely thrilled! There are actually several dragon books by the same author and he has all of them. He really liked this one because he feels like he is learning some special code, and kids like that kind of stuff. His face just lit up when he got it and he has been very happy with it. These books are stunning to look at, but they do have a lot of small pieces, so I would not give them to very small children who may destroy/eat some of the parts.

Not really what I thought - but nice.
This is a glorified stationery set. Very nice though! The paper products provided are high quality and it includes "dragon runes" and coding tips on the inside box cover. Great for Dragonology enthusiasts. Maybe pricey as a stationery set, but the presentation is worth it.

Thinking with Fantasy
For the upper elementary or middle school child who is into fantasy this is wonderful. It pushes them to stretch their logical thinking, problen solving and handwriting skills beyond what they get in school. It is even more fun if they have someone to try the codes out with. I have used many of the 'ologies' series with kids and find that it can often get them to think beyond the every day. The books are a bit on the expensive side for the amount of content but they have worth every penny when they get a child who is struggling in school to discover that they can think and solve puzzles and maybe even read on their own.