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  • THE TWENTY-ONE BALLOONS. by Du Bois, William Pene (1916 - 1993)
    Du Bois, William Pene (1916 - 1993)
    THE TWENTY-ONE BALLOONS.

    Edition: First printing.

    New York: The Viking Press, (1947) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - A charming story of a retired San Francisco professor of arithmetic who - after years of dealing with unruly boys in the classroom - wants nothing more than peace and quiet, and so he devises the idea of a gentle balloon flight around the world. Things don't turn out quite as he expects when he crash lands his balloon on the island of Krakatoa, shortly before it erupts. There he discovers an strange society of nothing but billionaires - all from San Francisco - supported by a hidden diamond mine. A wonderful combination of gentle humor, utopianism, adventure, some surrealist fantasy, a bit of steampunk and factual…

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    New York: The Viking Press, (1947) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - A charming story of a retired San Francisco professor of arithmetic who - after years of dealing with unruly boys in the classroom - wants nothing more than peace and quiet, and so he devises the idea of a gentle balloon flight around the world. Things don't turn out quite as he expects when he crash lands his balloon on the island of Krakatoa, shortly before it erupts. There he discovers an strange society of nothing but billionaires - all from San Francisco - supported by a hidden diamond mine. A wonderful combination of gentle humor, utopianism, adventure, some surrealist fantasy, a bit of steampunk and factual information ("Half of this story is true and the other half might very well have happened'), including some real balloon inventions, illustrated with delightful pencil drawings the by author. Although set in 1883, this was written for a world just emerging from World War II - in fact, the first paragraphs which contrasts the speed of different forms of travel refers to changes coming in the Atomic Age - and so one can understand the appeal of this book which depicts a world of wonders far removed from war. Winner of the 1948 Newbery award. SIGNED on the front endpaper by du Bois. 180 pp.

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    Condition: Near fine in a near fine first issue dust jacket without the award medallion (some discoloration from binder's glue to the endpapers, and some light shelfwear, toning to the interior of the dj, but overall a tight and straight copy,with the original price of $2.50 on the dj flap) Newspaper clipping from 1948 announcing the Newbery award laid in.

    Book ID: 78981
    View cart More details Price: $1,000.00
  • AMONG THE DARK MOUNTAINS or Cast Away in Sumatra. by Ker, David.
    Ker, David.
    AMONG THE DARK MOUNTAINS or Cast Away in Sumatra.

    Edition: Hardcover.

    London and Glasgow: Blackie & Son Limited. n.d. (ca 1930) dj. Hardcover - An adventure story for boys "based on adventures taken from life . . . in the state of Sumatra when Mrs Ker and I visited it in the year of the eruption" - that is, the eruption of Krakatoa. Illustrated with a glossy frontispiece and three inserted plates by Frances Ewan. 296 pp.

    Condition: Very good in very good dust jacket (missing front endpaper, some foxing to the first few pages, etc, but the green cloth cover is bright and attractive as is the uncommon dust jacket)

    Book ID: 63241
    View cart More details Price: $25.00