Soldiers of Fortune. [Inscribed by Capt. Patrick Irving O'Hay, Inspiration for the Character of Burke]

B&W Plates; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 364 pages; [Inscribed by Capt. Patrick Irving O'Hay, inspiration for the Character of Burke] 1897 Charles Scribner's Sons. HC 1st edition. With b&w plates on glossy stock from drawings by Charles Dana Gibson. Snugly bound and neat in original light mustard yellow cloth with pictorial cover by Gibson in blue and decorative titles and tuling in gilt and blue. On the recto of the pictorial frontis, Capt. Patrick Irving O'Hay, a Rough Rider and close friend of Davis, has penned a lengthy inscription, dated 1925, in which he describes his being the self-same "Burke" that figures in an important secondary role in the novel. O'Hay led an adventure filled life as a mercenary in Latin America, participating in several latin and south american revolutionary conflicts, as a regular office in the US Army, serving in the Spanish American War and WWI. He was also an actor on the stage in New York. After his retirement from service in the Army he moved to Taos and took up traveling as a public speaker on topics relating to WWI, the Rough Riders, and his unusual set of experiences. It was certainly in this role that this particular inscription was made. An interesting historical and bibliographic note relates to a clipped catalog listing, pasted to the recto of the half-title, from which this title was purchased by the prior owner, presumably with the intent to have it signed by O'Hay at his appearance. The used copy was asked and paid $5, at 1925, a pretty substantial secondary market price for this 1st edition, and indicative of the place it still held in the popular opinion at the time. Striking that the current value of the 1st edition in similar condition has more or less reverted to that 5 dollar figure. A literary apology for Imperialism with a romance framing narrative device, it is now largely read for the part it played in ginning up enthusiasm for Imperialist forays into Latin and South America and specifically the Spanish-American War. The association inscription places this copy as a very interesting example of the place the book held in the popular view of American interventions In the affairs of its neighbors. The book is VG or better.…