FOR THE SOUL OF RAFAEL: A ROMANCE OF OLD CALIFORNIA [First edition in very scarce dustwrapper]

Marah Ellis Ryan

Published by A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1906

About this Item

First impression of the true first edition published 12 May 1906. ***Colour illustration on front board and spine and with sepia endpapers and sepia borders to the text throughout by Ralph Fletcher Seymour (decorative designs), and nineteen sepia illustrations drawn resembling photographs throughout, mounted as tipped-in plates with individual captions. Including sepia tipped-in frontispiece entitled: "Because of One Little White Vampire" taken specially for this book by Harold A.Taylor. Printed on quality paper and bound by The Lakeside Press, Chicago. ***Very good in colour decorative tan cloth-covered boards showing a gowned and lace-shawled young aristocratic Spanish woman between two candle holders and candles, with red titles with black borders and black titles to spine and front board. Edges of boards slightly rubbed. Illustrative front board bright with red titles to front board and spine bright. Sepia-illustrated front and rear pastedowns and endpapers. All pages of text-block untrimmed (rough-cut, as called for and common with American editions). Head and tail of spine slightly rubbed and worn. Top edge of text-block darkened. No inscriptions. Spine tight. ***In a very sepia illustrated dustwrapper. Edges of dustwrapper slightly rubbed and creased. One-inch closed tear to tail of spine adjoining rear panel of dustwrapper. Short closed tear and crease to bottom corner of rear panel of dustwrapper. 2mm closed tear to bottom edge of rear panel of dustwrapper. Very small chips and shallow loss to head of spine of dustwrapper. Spine of dustwrapper browned. Tiny loss to top outer corner of front panel of dustwrapper. Rear panel of dustwrapper slightly rubbed and discoloured (being matt cream background). ***214 x 146 mm. 378 pages plus sepia illustrated front and rear endpapers: black and white Spanish musical motif to rear and two uncut pages, black and white Spanish musical bars to the front entitled La Calendria (the Meadow-Lark and Captain de un Barco. (the author indebted to the South-west Society of the Archaeological Institute of America for the Spanish Music contained in this volume. ***Marah Ellis Ryan was an author and an authority on native indians, and who went to live among the Hopi Indians. She claimed to be the only white woman ever admitted to the secret religious rites. She was noted as an authority on the tribal life of the Indians in the United States and Mexico. ***'Fort Worth Telegram: " For the Soul of Rafael" is nothing short of a masterpiece --- Every chapter is strong as the likes and dislikes of the people it deals with.' ***Providence Journal: 'For those who know and love California, the charm of the book centres in the graphic touches of local color. Who that has looked upon the beautiful mission of San Juan Capistrano will not recognize the author's picture of it.' ***Philadelphia Record: 'With the regal splendor of typography and art, "Rafael" makes an instant appeal to the admiration of those who love the beautiful --- There is an element of the Spanish fervor of romance in the tale that makes the pages flow with life.' *** Chicago Record-Herald: ' "Rafael" is as full of prismatic light and color as one of the jewels that figure so dramatically in the drama's conclusion. --- The story is picturesque, poetic, vividly effective, full of the dreamy, yet intense and passionate spirit and charm of the period. The characters are real and convincing.' (Review quotes from inside front and rear wrapper fold-overs). ***A very hard to find first impression of the true first edition in its extremely scarce original fragile dustwrapper in very nice collectable condition. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 2747x

Bibliographic Details

• Title: FOR THE SOUL OF RAFAEL: A ROMANCE OF OLD CALIFORNIA [First edition in very scarce dustwrapper]
• Publisher: A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago
• Publication Date: 1906
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Ralph Fletcher Seymour (decorative designs) and Harold A.Taylor (photographic illustrations)
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: First Impression
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions