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From: F.
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 10:21:02 -0600
Remote Name: 152.163.252.161
Well, going through the heptology (which just sounds beter to me than sixology) on a Sunday morning beats shovelling snow....so, in each book, there are four actual envelopes, in addition to the post cards. (Some of the envelopes contain a letter with a single fold, and some contain other enclosures, but I think I know what you mean). In order, starting with G&S, the first envelope (I'll describe the front) is the map of the islands, then, immediately following, the rather Gestalt pike (barracuda?...). Later, the shell/water lily, and (these get a bit harder to describe without editorializing) the weird little animal emerging from a man's head. In Sabine's Notebook, the first missive is in the envelope with the falcon's head, the next, later, is the dirigible (sp?) over the Sphinx (a letter with a single fold). Two more: the fish with the Rube Goldberg contraption, and the map with Solomon Islands stamp. In the Golden Mean, there are: the seascape with map of Caspian sea area, the Japanese flute player, the flying frog/winged angel, and the petroglyphs on black. In the Gryphon: the upside-down heart in the vertically oriented envelope (single fold letter, with ticket enclosed), the lily, the view of Alexandria (from which the endpapers of the book are taken), and the sun/moon, with what looks like a metronome scale (contains a two page letter, double fold). In addition, between the first two envelopes, there is a bi-fold card, not in an envelope, but physically glued onto the page. Alexandria contains: the family on the steps (same as the endpapers), the leopard, palm tree and god I believe to be Sekhmet, and a peacock. A single fold card, not in an envelope (camel caravan) appears after the leopard envelope. And in The Morning Star: the "fragile temperment" envelope, giraffe with bullet holes (a two page letter), the bat, and the pharoh with Suez Canal stamps (vertically oriented). Would it have sufficed to simply say that if there is an image on the right hand page, and a blank space on the reverse left hand page, you are missing an envelope/card? Ah, but it wouldn't have provided me quite the diversion...