THE ADVENTURES OF A SKELETON. A TALE OF NATURAL GAS. New York: J. S. Ogilvie, Publisher, 57 Rose Street, [1890]. Octavo, pp. [1-4] 5-281 [282-287: ads] [288: blank], flyleaves at front and rear, frontispiece portrait of the author and illustrations in the text, original pictorial brown cloth, front panel stamped in black, spine panel stamped in black and gold. First edition. Published in cloth and in paper wrappers as "The Peerless Series," number 2, March 1890 at 25¢, this being one of the hardbound copies. The protagonist, A. Skeleton, plunges through a natural gas drill hole into the interior of the Earth where he encounters strange creatures, including mutant humans, apparently descended from American Indians. Partly satire, but mainly adventure -- a mix of A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT and ROBINSON CRUSOE. Crude but imaginative woodcuts throughout text. Published as a subscription book and therefore not included in Wright, American Fiction 1876-1900. Bleiler (1978), p. 202. Reginald 14838. Eaton Catalogue, p. 470. A very good copy with a bright and clean binding. A notably rare book printed on pulpy paper stock prone to chipping at edges. The paper of this copy is darkened but still supple. (#171990).
Price: $3,500.00
No statement of printing.