Finding the North Pole by Cook and Peary 1909 Canvass / Salesman's Dummy Copy

by Cook

$60 · Offered by eBay

First edition

The product is a salesman's canvass or dummy copy of the hardcover book "Finding the North Pole by Cook and Peary, with an Introduction by Admiral George W. Melville" published in 1909. It is a first edition in English with photos and illustrations. The book is a valuable collector's item for those interested in the history of exploration and publishing endeavors. It came with the proviso - "We guarantee this book to be just as represented by this prospectus." Because it was a condensed, pre-publication sample, the Table of Contents shows "00" for all page numbers and bears the explanation, "This Table of Contents is subject to such revision as events make desirable." At the back of this hardcover sample, it appears that a salesman filled a page with names and addresses of buyers' pre-orders at a price of $1.50 each and then tore the paeg out, presumably to send it to the publishers. Then the sample fell into the hands of young Katherine and Fred Miller, who practiced writing their names in pencil on the next pre-order page and inside the back cover. Cutely, their "R's" are backward. The back of the sample bears a rear-facing title which became the spine of the full book. The booklet is very lightly worn but significantly soiled. It should clean up nicely with professional care. Most of the gilt titlesare faded, with specks of bright gilt. The red, white, and blue flag on the cover is bright. One subscription page has been removed. Free shipping.

• Year: 1909
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good

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