L. W. Currey, Inc.

Roberts, Kenneth. NORTHWEST PASSAGE. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., MCMXXXVII [1937]. Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1-2] 3-709 [710: ad], endpaper maps, title page printed in green and black, publisher's pictorial green cloth, spine panel stamped in black and gold, front panel stamped in blind, top edge stained green, fore-edge untrimmed, bottom edge rough trimmed. First edition, first trade printing. Signed on the title page by Roberts. A historical novel set during the French and Indian Wars by one of America's finest historical novelists. "NORTHWEST PASSAGE was first published in serial form in the SATURDAY EVENING POST, in one of the last decisions made by George Horace Lorimer before his retirement as editor of the POST, with Book 1 running in 1936 and Book 2 in 1937. The story became a national sensation and was the second best-selling novel in the U.S. in 1937, behind only GONE WITH THE WIND and was also the fifth best-selling novel in 1938" (Wikipedia). The St. Francis raid, depicted in the first half of the novel, inspired the 1940 movie with the same title, starring Spencer Tracy. The book also served as the basis for a 1958-1959 television series, which was more closely based on the 1940 movie than on the book. A fine copy in nearly fine pictorial dust jacket (priced $2.75 on the front flap) with two 40 mm closed tears in the front panel near the spine fold. Still a lovely copy and scarce thus. (#178214).

Price: $350.00