OO: Adventures in Orbello Land by the Author of The Masque of Death.
New York: Belford Company, Publishers 18-22 East 18th St. 1889, 1st, brown cloth boards with black and gilt illustrations of the Australian Lundee attacking the Orbellians, and of Rollin, Ben, and Polly sailing their boat; elaborate designs on the spine, brown patterned endpapers, many coated-paper illustrations in text, some by Henry Newell Cady and others by J. K. H; 5.5x7.75"; 316 pp. Juvenile hardback.
An early science fiction/utopian novel for children, set in an uncharted part of Southern Australia. Rollin sets out to find his father in the mysterious, unknown land of OO, a gentle but rigid theocracy whose members wear Greek dress. As it turns out Rollin's father has become a king and captive of the Orbellians. Once the story gets going, the attempt to find and rescue him is a real page-turner, with racial stereotypes of its time.. The gift inscription on a flyleaf reads, "in remembrance of Valentine's Day 1890"; a note opposite written by the recipient as an adult reads "present to ... when he was a little boy."
CONDITION:Very Good Minus; (1/4" stain across top edge thus grade), tight, board gilt very bright, spine a little faded, extrems rubbed; only occasional light page soil and reading wrinkles, two pages with chipped tips. Item #19837
Price: $180.00