The Matapan Jewels (Early Color Dust Jacket, Treasure Diving)

Du Boisgobey, Fortuné (pseud. Fortuné Hippolyte Auguste Abraham-Dubois); edited by G.F. Monkshood

Published by Collins' Clear-Type Press, London, 1908

About this Item

[1908, ref. British Library] Decorative blind stamped cloth over boards, title stamped in black onto spine and blind stamped onto upper board, 12mo (6-3/4 inches tall), pp. 320. Volume with light wear and partial offset to feps, very slight bow to boards. DJ with light rubbing and soil, a tiny chip to foot of rear flap. Credited DJ artwork by A. Farquhar Taylor. Originally published in France as L'Affaire Matapan in 1881, this later reprint is an excellent example of an earlier dust jacket being printed in color, to - as Rockwell Kent said "The real purpose of the paper jacket is to conceal the drab cloth cover . . to dress up a sorry article [and] should be arresting, alluring, compelling. ." - this front panel image showing greed in action certainly meets Kent's criteria! The Matapan Jewels jacket is also notable for having used the complete verso as advertising space for the publisher's then currently available titles. An early diving for lost treasure mystery, from Collins' Lotus Library. Ref. Tanselle.

Seller Inventory # 1408

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Matapan Jewels (Early Color Dust Jacket, Treasure Diving)
• Publisher: Collins' Clear-Type Press, London
• Publication Date: 1908
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: Reprint.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good plus
• Seller catalogs:
  • Modern First Editions