The Phantom of the Poles [First Edition]

First printing of this highly sought volume. Dark brown fine cloth boards, crisp gilt cover and spine titles, light shelf wear, discoloration. Heavy stock smooth coated pages, generally fine, moderate discoloration; no writing. Rather humorous and intriguing antiquarian pictorial bookplate at front pastdown: "Ex Libris. From the Library of the Gaslight Club." Detailed borders surround scene of desk with books, compass, bust, etc. and at center, tiny dancer or fairy upon open book with words: "Work is the Curse, of the Drinking Classes." Frontispiece portrait of William Reed with facsimile signature. Stylish antiquarian light blue bookstore tag w/gilt text and border inside back cover: "Brentanos, Booksellers & Stationers, New York". String-bind good, square; hinges intact. Fine example of heavy book craftsmanship. Rare near very good first edition. Features twenty-one photo plates of historical figures, explorers, theoretical structure of earth, Antarctica's great barrier ice wall, bird's-eye view of the opening to the interior of earth, related unexplained phenomena, and much more. Examines hollow earth theory with the north, and south, poles being entrances to a middle earth. Uses facts of nature as evidence, circumstantial clues, and anecdotal accounts from polar explorers, etc., to demonstrate the greater than probable case of at minimum more than meets the eye below our feet. 283 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall. …