The Land of the Wine [Association Copy, Inscribed to Angelo Heilprin]; Being an Account of the Madeira Islands..

London: The Author's Syndicate, 1901. Hardcover. Very good. Two volumes (complete), octavo size, 567 pp., inscribed by Biddle to Angelo Heilprin. An interesting work about the history of the Madeira Islands, inscribed to one fascinating man by another.

The author, Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Sr. (1894-1948) was (per Wiki) "a millionaire whose fortune allowed him to pursue theatricals, self-published writing, athletics, and Christianity on a full-time basis." Born into wealth, he became known not only for his writing but also for his skills in hand-to-hand combat, which he used to train both U.S. Marines and FBI agents.

Angelo Heilprin (1853-1907), to whom the set was inscribed, was "mostly known for the part he took [in] the Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891-1892...he was also a mountaineer and...founded the American Alpine Club" (in 1902). He went on an expedition to Florida in 1886 and to Bermuda the following year, both for scientific research. 1888 found him in Mexico ascending volcanos and was the first scientist to arrive in Martinique, when Montagne Pelee erupted in 1902, being the first geologist to ascend a side of the crater. Altogether a most fascinating man.

The inscription (in the year of publication), found on the front free endpaper of the first volume, reads thus: "To Professor Angelo Heilprin, / With my very best / compliments, and warm / regards. / A.J. Drexel Biddle / Philadelphia / Sept. 11, 1901".

This set published in London by "The Author's Syndicate", which was founded in London in 1890 by the British Society of Authors. Interestingly, this set somewhat scarce in the marketplace, as is another work by Biddle with a similar title ("The Madeira Islands"). As of this writing, we see no copies of this set online.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full navy blue cloth with gilt lettering, ruled borders and armorial crest on the front boards, gilt lettering on the spines, top edges gilt, fore- and bottom edges uncut, both volumes nicely illustrated with half-tone reproductions of black-and-white photographs, one three-panel folding map in the first volume; octavo size (8 7/8" by 6"), pagination: Vol. I, [1-4] 5-267; Vol. II, [1-4] 5-300.

___CONDITION: A solid very good set, the gilt on the front and top edges bright, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, the folding map without unintended creases or tears, and entirely free of prior owner markings; we are grading as very good due to overall light soiling, we had a professional (name available upon request) strengthen the hinges, head and tail of the spines, the binding is now solid and sturdy.

___CITATION: Gabler no. G13140 for the US (Philadelphia), stated "2nd ed.".

___POSTAGE: Please note that this set is unusually heavy and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.

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