Two Years Before the Mast. A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea
Chicago: The Lakeside Press, 1930. Limited Edition, one of 1,000 copies. Illustrated by Edward A. Wilson. Hardcover in publisher's slipcase. Quarto. x, 524 pages.
A genuine American classic. Dana was a gifted observer and writer, and his memoir paints a colorful portrait of Mexican California in the 1830s, including the ports of San Diego, San Pedro (Los Angeles), Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Francisco.
This fine edition of Dana's important narrative was produced by the Lakeside Press's "Four American Books" project in 1930. Lakeside was the fine press division of the R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company of Chicago, and this project was designed to demonstrate their ability to execute fine printing on par with European presses. The other three American books in the series were Thoreau's "Walden," Melville's "Moby Dick," and a collection of Edgar Allan Poe's tales.
Wonderfully illustrated by Wilson, who also designed the book under the supervision of legendary typographer William A. Kittredge.
Ref. BADARACCO; THE LAKESIDE PRESS ANNOUNCES ILLUSTRATED EDITIONS OF AMERICAN BOOKS; ZAMORANO 80 #26; etc.
Near fine in a very good slipcase. Bound in blue cloth over boards with coarse white cloth spine titled in gilt, top edge gilt, with gilt-stamped decoration to spine and upper board. Mild toning to spine and a touch of browning along inner margins of endpapers, else fine. Slipcase has light rubs and a few small chips scattered along joints and edges of compartment opening, browning to spine and upper panels. A bright, superbly preserved copy overall.
Item #1973
Price: $250