Schuette, H. George. ATHONIA OR, THE ORIGINAL FOUR HUNDRED. Manitowoc, Wis.: The Lakeside Co., 1911. Octavo, pp. [1-10] 11-479 [480: blank], twelve inserted plates, one small illustration in text, original maroon cloth, front panel stamped in gold and ruled in blind, spine panel stamped in gold, rear panel ruled in blind. First published edition. According to Reginald and Negley, first published privately by the author in 1910. Ancient Greeks sail west and establish an eutopia in an unknown region of the New World. "This long eccentric novel supposes that, before Columbus arrived in America, ancient Greeks settled near the Yucatan in a community they called Athonia. The 400 of the title refers to the turn-of-the-century tradition that the cream of New York society consisted of 400 individuals. Thus the conceit that the original 400 aristocrats of America came from Athens." - Robert Eldridge. Lewis, Utopian Literature, p. 174. Negley, Utopian Literature: A Bibliography 1014. Rooney, Dreams and Visions: A Study of American Utopias, 1865-1917, p. 196. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, p. 150. Bleiler (1978), p. 175. Reginald 12783. Smith, American Fiction, 1901-1925 S-156. Early owner's signature on front free endpaper. Binding rubbed at spine ends and corner tips, a bright, clean, very good copy. (#95679)