A Legend of the Coos

San Francisco: Philopolis Press, 1909. First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. Duodecimo size, 45 pp. A small volume published by the Philopolis Press in 1909, telling in poem form within a Native American setting the age-old story of two lovers and the fate which divided them.

The Philopolis Press ("Love of the City") was founded shortly after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Led by Arthur and Lucia Mathews, a group of artists and writers who shared a vision of "the rebuilding of San Francisco as an urban utopia" came together and the Philopolis Press was born. For ten years they published books, ephemera, and a monthly magazine (truncated) which addressed issues such as urban planning, public education, and govenment; in one article the term "Calitopia" was coined, "to realize the glories of mythical Utopia in California". (n. b., above quotes and much info from "American Arcadia: California and the Classical Tradition" by Peter J. Holliday.)

Agnes Ruth Lockhart Sengstacken (1859-1948) was one of six children of a couple who immigrated to Oregon in 1851 via wagon train; she was born in a two-room log cabin on land which would eventually become known as Myrtle Point. "An accomplished lecturer and the author of numerous poems and articles", she continued to publish through the age of 83.

___DESCRIPTION: Brown paper-covered boards with gilt lettering and a small gilt illustration of a California poppy on the front, fore- and bottom edges uncut, plain endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece a photographic reproduction in sienna of a waterfall; binding duodecimo size (7" by 5.25"), pagination: [i-viii] 1-36 [37].

___CONDITION: Overall near fine, the binding clean with only a few light spots, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior clean, and free of prior owner markings; toning to the free endpapers from the binding glue and the bottom corners of a few leaves creased.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 23082304)