Collingwood, Harry [Pseud of Lancaster, William J C]

[Steam Punk] The Log of the Flying Fish. A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and Adventure.

New York: Scribner and Welford, 1886. First Edition, First Printing. Decorated Cloth Hardcover.

First American edition of a book first published in London, notable for its marvelous cover illustration. Originally published by Blackie and Sons, 1886. Publisher's Adverts dated 1886.

Olive green cloth with decorations in white, Black and orange-drown; all edges stained green;  No date given, but an  7.5 inches tall;  [8],[9]-384pp+24 publisher's adverts. 12 full page illustrations by Gordon Browne.

The bindings are tight and square; front hinges starting. Text clean, light even toning. Moderate shelf handling wear with tiny corner rubs. Previous owner’s signature on the front blank is dated 1890.


Very Good / No Dust Jacket As Issued. Item #17266

Classic boy’s adventure, combining grit and pluck with steam punk high tech, in the style of Jules Verne.

"The Flying Fish actually surpasses all Jules Verne's creations; with incredible speed she flies through the air, skims over the surface of the water, and darts along the ocean bed. We strongly recommend our school-boy friends to possess themselves of her log."--Athenæum.

Collingwood/Lancaster, an engineer by profession, possessed a remarkable talent for crafting an abundance of juvenile boys' tales, with a predominant focus on maritime adventures. Though his literary ventures rarely delved into the realm of fantasy, Collingwood shared a common thread with many British juvenile authors of his era. He fervently upheld traditional Tory values of supremacy, courage, and the expansion of the empire.

The unique appeal of Collingwood's work lay in his adept incorporation of cutting-edge scientific advancements. This fusion resulted in the creation of a believable, albeit speculative, near-future technological backdrop for his narratives.

Ref: Bleiler, 81

Price: $395.00