It looks like Deb might win the auction for my Xmas prezzie; The Tin Army of the Potomac, it's an amazing kids book from 1888, I've been wanting for decades now. It  combines delicious illustrations of imported leaden figures from Germany of the sort that Abe Lincoln bought his boy Tad (so far as I know, the only toy soldiers ever used in the White House) and a potted history of the Civil War.   it combines a charming unique illustration series with education in history.  It's also beautiful.  anyhow, she's bid on an auction, we'll see if we win...it's not a popular book, so I expect we'll get it for a comparative song.  usually when it's on auction the asking price is...prohibitive.