George W. Weingart

would love to read this classic

This book is noted mainly for being the first book (not counting the same author's self-published, mimeographed account) written in the US that documents the practices of recreative pyrotechny (as distinct from military pyrotechny) as practiced in the US in the years prior to the decline of the domestic fireworks manufacturing industry. Many of the processes depicted are dated and some quite dangerous, but it is a more or less accurate historical record from a time sadly lacking more such books.