Beschreibung
Essentially, a reading copy of a 160-page book about volcanoes and volcanic activity, against the background of the eastern Caribbean, and published soon after the devastating eruption of Mont Pelee which destroyed the old city of St Pierre, Martinique, in 1902, which itself occurred a few hours after the eruption of La Soufriere, St Vincent. The title is taken from the dark blue cover. This copy is missing the title page. The first page after the front free end paper is Contents, then List of Illustrations. A fuller title is 'Martinique, St Vincent. Guadeloupe, St Lucia, Dominica, Barbadoes, and the Danish West Indies, with latest views of Mont Pelee, La Soufriere, and the Destroyed Country, to which is added the Volcanoes in United States Territory', appears at the top of page 1, the first page of text, and the page on which the Introduction begins. Martinique itself is covered in pages 3-80, with many illustrations both pre- and post-eruptions. St Pierre is recalled as an attractive city with many fine buildings. The capital Fort de France is portrayed as 'less interesting' but nevertheless very important and well-to-do. Much also on the mountain, the relief effort, the help given by the United States. Pages 81-112 substantially cover St Vincent, again pre- and post-eruption, many illustrations, descriptions of the island, its agriculture and people. Damage caused around Georgetown on the north-east coast and elsewhere beneath the mountain. Relief effort is covered. Descriptions follow on Barbadoes (as then spelt), Dominica, St Lucia and Guadeloupe. 20 pages on the then Danish West Indies (notably St Croix and St Thomas) which in 1917 were sold to the USA and became the US Virgin Islands. There is a summary of worldwide volcanoes and their activity; and the final 10 pages are given over to 'Volcanic perils in the United States'. No indication in this copy as to author, date of publication and publisher ? that would all have been on the missing title page. But known to have been the work of John W Lovell, as writer and publisher, and evidently issued in 1902 ? if this date is totally accurate, the book would thus have been produced just months after those calamitous eruptions. At front pastedown is an original retailer stamp whose address is stated as 'Corner Victoria & Bourbon Sts, Castries, St Lucia', a location which no longer exists given the development of the city of Castries in the years since Large size book ? 33cm high X 26cm wide. [Book description Copyright © Carvid Books 2020] As mentioned above, this is a reading copy, missing the title page, thus assessed as Poor. Cover worn at front and spine at all edges; crease to lower open corner of front cover; rear cover badly affected by a mark, possibly burn or singe, to top edge (measures 10.5cm across and 2.8cm at its deepest) and many other marks as well as chips and wear to all edges; foxing to end papers; sales label, as referred to above, on front pastedown; many pages have tears, marks and creases; wear to edges and pages have tendency to be splitting from binding; the damage to rear cover extends in reducing extents back to page 131. But, for all that, perfectly readable with a fascinating volume of detail and history. PLEASE NOTE! This is a heavy book (weighs 1,050gr net, thus packed weight ca 1.5kg) but postage/shipping within UK is included in the indicated pricing for 3-5 days shipping time option. For an order outside of UK or an order within UK for 1-3 days shipping time option, however, we will be asking for an additional contribution towards shipping costs. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers DC130
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