Rabble in Arms (1939 Ticonderoga Edition)

Garden City: Doubleday Doran, 1939. Ticonderoga Edition of 1939. Very near fine in dark blue, patterned cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine and a gilt decoration on the front board. A small octavo of 7 1/2 by 5 1/8 inches with minor crimping of the cloth at the head and heel of the spine. In a very good unclipped dust jacket with several 1/4 inch deep chips at the upper edge of the spine area, several very shallow chips at the lower edge of the spine area a closed tear at the upper edge of the front panel with related creasing. Signed by the author on a specially tipped-in Fort Ticonderoga page just before the fly title page. Reportedly, there were only 150 copies of this edition published making it extremely uncommon. Overall a very handsome and collectable copy of one of Kenneth Roberts' most memorable works historical fiction novels dealing with the early years of the American Revolution. The book picks-up following the loss at Quebec and where Robert's earlier book, Arundel, leaves off. It traces the escape of the American Army, under the command of Benedict Arnold, down Lake Champlain to the southern end of the lake to construct a small fleet of vessels to meet and oppose the British fleet on the northern end of the lake. The ensuing battle took place at Valcour Island on October 11, 1776. Although the Battle of Valcour Island was considered a loss to the American forces its outcome was significant enough to delay the British advance down the lake and was a major reason for the ultimate victory at Saratoga a year later.