Exploring the Endless Caverns of New Market Virginia, In the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley, 1940s re-issue of 1926 Booklet

Published by Nomad Publishing Company

About this Item

Exploring the Endless Caverns of New Market Virginia, In the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Published by the Nomad Publishing Company, Inc, 150 Lafayette Street New York. Note: The original publication date is 1926, however, this appears to be a re-issue from circa 1942 to 1944 (the book cites a War Tax on admission to the caverns). // This is a wonderful 1926 vintage promotional booklet for the Endless Caverns of New Market Virginia, with photographs, newspaper excerpts, stories, and reportages of early exploration and spelunking of these remarkable Caverns. Though at the publishing of this booklet, the first mile or so of the caverns had been electrically lit and were open to visitors, the unexplored caverns continued into unknown underground territory for miles. // Of particular fascination in this booklet are two inspired and somewhat harrowing accounts of the first expedition through the then unexplored regions of the Endless Caverns, which was undertaken by the New York City-based prestigious Explorer s Club and the American Museum of Natural History in 1925. One of these accounts, titled The First Expedition, was written by Bettie Larimore, a journalist for the Boston Post and the only woman member of the group. Larimore s description of the trip is a nail-biter and describes the group, armed with miner s hats, candles and flashlights, spelunking through tiny crevices and rocky tubes, navigating by rope across deep chasms, and discovering underground rivers and marvelous mineral and crystal formations. They placed a bottle at the farthest point of their journey with a signed note to later explorers to carry the bottle further and leave it at the next edge of discovery. The black and white vintage photographs included are also wonderful. Back inside cover has informatin about admission to the site including prices. The presence of a War Tax on the price of admission dates this booklet to the 1940s, though the stories and photographs date clearly to the original publication date of 1926. // Description: Booket. Paper covers, stapled. 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Condition: Very Good. Some tiny edge nicks and a small split (less than an inch) at upper spine. Otherwise, crisp and bright. Covers are clean and glossy with some shallow unobtrusive creases. A very well-preserved copy.

Seller Inventory # 1429

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Exploring the Endless Caverns of New Market Virginia, In the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley, 1940s re-issue of 1926 Booklet
• Publisher: Nomad Publishing Company
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Geology
  • Caves & Spelunking
  • Exploration & Adventure