 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Hard cover, 8vo, in grey paper covered boards, printed in ochre brown with a decorative American Arts and Crafts style border of intertwining foliage, acanthus perhaps? with titles to a center rectangular shaped "clearing." Titles are printed vertically down the spine. Rear board features a matching large block print vignette. Now in a protective mylar cover. CONDITION: Very Good. The paper over boards has a few splits at the rear spine edge, and is lightly worn at corners. A few spots of light soiling to boards. Inside, the inner front hinge has a two inch split at top edge. Endpapers a bit browned, and pages moderately age toned. Otherwise, book is clean and square, unwritten in. **Couplets and quatrains on divers topics such as natural science, love, birds. This is an early work of poetry from the Milwaukee-born poet, writer, natural scientist, environmentalist and California arts and crafts advocate, CHARLES AUGUSTUS KEELER (1871-1937). As Director of San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences from 1891, Keeler was involved in some interesting projects, writing books on ornithology, and chosen to accompany the two-month scientific Harriman Alaska Expedition of 1899, in which the Gilded Age railroad tycoon Edward Henry Harriman explored and geologically charted the Alaskan coastline to Siberia and back, perhaps, as suggested by some, to scope out a potential land bridge railway line across this continental divide. Keeler's ornithological findings were published as part of the 13 volume Report of the Expedition. He met naturalist John Muir on the trip, and Keeler also became a founding member of the Sierra Club. [Another author in our collection, George Bird Grinnell was also on the Harriman Expedition; see our no. 9097.] San Francisco-born ARTIST LOUISE MAPES BUNNELL KEELER (1872-1907) , the Author's first wife, did this book's cover design, with its distinctive wide printed borders and carved capitals. She also designed Keeler's earlier 1900 title, "Idlys of El Dorado," and his book of children's verse, "Elfin Songs of Sunland"-see our number 9757. (AMJ).
Ref: FINE 9756
$150.00