Sailing Alone Around the World
New York, The Century Co., 1900 (first edition).
Octavo, xviii, 294 pages with 4 maps and 60 illustrations by Thomas Fogarty and George Varian (a dozen full-page) plus a frontispiece ('The "Spray." From a photograph taken in Australian waters').
Original navy cloth blocked in silver and green; top edge gilt, others uncut; covers a little rubbed and marked; front endpaper renewed, with the hinge cracked (but firm), and slight adhesion damage to the pastedown; contemporary ownership details on the recto of the frontispiece ('Edward Flanagan | Dec. 1901'); a few minor smudges, spots and other signs of age and handling; a very good copy.
Slocum's classic account of the first solo circumnavigation of the globe, together with an autograph letter signed by Slocum (octavo, 2 pages of a bifolium, in very good condition, with a few short splits along old folds expertly sealed), dated 13 January 1901 on board his sloop 'Spray'. The book was an immediate success and Slocum was in high demand so soon after its publication. This letter relates to the exhibition of the 'Spray' at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo later in 1901, which required towing the sloop some 550 km along the Erie Canal. It reads: 'Dear Doctor Ellis, Your letter Jan 9th and Mr Wade's of 11th was received yesterday. I have written Mr W saying that I will come if I can, and that will be able to say definitely tomorrow. I understand by your letter that the Club would pay my traveling expenses to and from Buffalo & New York. I am not rich and my small income of late is being invested so that I haven't much at my command for pleasures and luxuries. The world is going all right with the Spray, however, and my friends will hear more about her by and bye. I thank you for the thought of, Yours sincerely, Joshua Slocum, The "Spray"'. Proceeds from book sales and lectures gave Slocum a measure of financial stability, but the settled life was not for him. In November 1909, aged 65, he set sail for the West Indies in 'Spray' on his annual winter voyage; neither Slocum or his yacht were ever seen again. [2 items].
Item #147051
Price (AUD):
$10,000.00