Martin, Harrison. Spook and Bones. With an Introduction by Edward W. Bok. N.p.: Privately Printed, 1924. Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-xiii [xiv] 15-66 [67] [68: blank]. Original patterned boards over black cloth with printed spine label, pictorial endpapers. Illustrated by the author. One of 500 numbered signed copies (this being #126). Spine label darkened and chipped at lower right corner, nicking off a couple of letters, some offsetting to last blank page (probably from a now absent bookmark), otherwise a nearly fine copy of an uncommon title. #400. $75. Bleiler Checklist (1948), p. 194. Reginald 09721. A short story written by the author in his childhood, with the characteristic tendencies of such productions: matter-of-fact anomalies, artlessness, charm. The gushing endorsement by Bok, former editor of the hugely successful Ladies Home Journal, inclines one to suspect that he may have been a friend of the family. However, the story is a rather curious affair. The two characters of the title are young boys who become fast friends and, with all their comrades, are referred to consistently as "Ghosts." But, if the characters of the novel are actually dead, then the afterlife bears a strong resemblance to a military prep school (with a naval emphasis). Is the author saying the afterlife is like school? Or that military school is like the afterlife? The tone is generally carefree until the duo are on board the class training sloop, The Ghostia, when it almost goes down during a storm. Then the narration takes on a serious no-nonsense tone, with an impressive display of nautical terms. The crew is rescued by a larger ship just before it goes under. This section, describing the outing of The Ghostia, takes up the largest portion of the story, establishing it firmly in the category of a nautical tale, whether the characters are to be taken as living, dead or just disoriented. One might speculate that the story had been written in the heat of a childish patriotism during America's involvement in World War I, then published later. But perhaps some forebodings of mortality seeped into that childish imagination. Seller Inventory # 400

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Spook and Bones

Publication Date: 1924

Binding: Hardback

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: First Edition.

Store Description

When I began my bookselling business in 1996 I called it "Eldritch Books" because that adjective at least partly covered the type of material I offered (and because its similarity to my own surname seemed so -- eldritch). "Ghost stories" would be another handy, if somewhat reductive, term. Most of it is fiction from the 19th and early 20th century with a strong emphasis on the fantastic. Since the most familiar and relevant genre terms in use today -- "science fiction," "fantasy," "supernatural," "horror" -- were not so much in use when these books were first published, pegging them that way can be anachronistic. But that should give you the general idea. I don't have much in the way of American pulp (either in magazine or specialty press book form) but otherwise my interests range widely from high-brow to middle-brow to low-brow to amateur/eccentric. You're more likely to find rare and obscure works here than high spots. (Or at least they're obscure now, whatever their status was when first published.) In 2001 I went to work for L. W. Currey as cataloguer and general assistant. Since 2014 I've been back working on my own. I have exhibited at convention fairs (such as WFC and Readercon) in the past. I began collecting and studying antiquarian fantasy around 1980. Some of my essays have appeared in genre publications such as NYRSF, Wormwood and F&SF. I tend to carefully research my inventory and write extensive notes. (If another dealer wishes to make use of any of these notes, I'd appreciate the courtesy of putting such excerpts in quotes and giving proper attribution to me. That's what I do when I quote from any of my reference works.) I will be gradually listing my inventory on ABE over the coming years. I hope you find something of interest.

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Robert Eldridge, Bookseller
NY, U.S.A.

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Robert Eldridge
P. O. Box 293
Elizabethtown NY 12932
USA.
Tel: 518-873-9966.
Email: rfx51@charter.net.

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I ship only by U.S. Postal Service. All shipments are packed carefully and mailed with insurance and (for domestic shipments) tracking information. Except where specified for extra large items, rates are: Domestic (within USA) Media Mail: $5. Domestic Priority: $10. International First Class (must be under 4 lbs.): $25. International Global Priority (...

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