My Secrete LOG BOKE; S -A- S X- MY XPOFERENS
Dusseldorf: Rangette & sons, 1892. First Edition. Stiff boards. ca. 10.5" x 7", this strange book was published around 1892 OCLC lists copies at 14 different libraries in the USA, and Europe. The entries describe this as a spurious work, more likely one might say , as a joke, as it is designed to look like a book that was thrown in the ocean by Columbus in the 1490's and some how survived the 400 years until is discovery. This copy is in fair condition. It is bound in parchment covered stiff card boards. It was made to look badly beaten, so it is difficult to put that aside and review the rest. The wrinkled parchment that makes up the front cover has large chips missing from the fore edge and the spine, and it remains fragile. The contents appear to be complete, but most of the leaves are loose from the binding. The parchment is somewhat brittle. There is a larger leaf inside that has a cloth and wax sealed string attached- the wax is mostly gone and the leaf is split in two along the fold, but it is still quite legible. The leaf is supposedly a letter giving permission for the voyage in 1492. There are 46 pages including a map plus the letter plus a note written on the front pastedown mentioning that this log book is being sealed in a cask and put in the sea west of the Azores, plus several blank pages at the back. The text is older English like it might have been written in the 15th century. There are many very nice illustrations on the pagess. A very interesting work, scarce, sold with all faults. Fair. Item #4539
Price: $183.00