The Sky Pilot.
Chicago: New York: Toronto: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1899. Illustrated by Louis Rhead. First edition. Hardcover. This first edition features a clipped valediction and signature by the author tipped onto the front pastedown. The clipped fragment reads, in two lines, “with – kind regards | very truly yours – Ralph Connor”. Affixed above is a printed personal book plate of “JOHN THOS. LEE”. On the facing front free endpaper recto is a lengthy, contemporary gift inscription inked in six lines:: “With love and | best wishes | from | yours affectionately | G. M. Birkett. | ‘Christmas.’ 1900.”
The book is in good condition, sound and complete with aesthetic flaws. The original illustrated cloth binding is square and tight, though with uniform spine toning, light overall soiling, chipping to the spine ends, and splitting of the cloth at the upper rear joint and lower front joint. The contents, though age-toned, show no spotting. Cosmetic splits to the endpapers at the front and rear pastedown gutters partially expose the intact mull beneath but do not affect binding integrity.
Ralph Connor was the pen name of Canadian Presbyterian minister Charles William Gordon (1860-1937). Sky Pilot was the second of fourteen novels he published between 1898 and 1910. “He was one of Canada’s most popular authors” and “the proceeds from his writing made him wealthy.”
Reference: Manitoba Historical Society Archives. Item #008555
Price: $100.00