The Money Moon by Jeffery Farnol 1911 First Edition Arthur I. Keller Illustrated Decorative Binding

This is a particularly attractive first edition of The Money Moon: A Romance by Jeffery Farnol, published in New York by Dodd, Mead & Company in November 1911, with illustrations by noted American artist Arthur I. Keller.

The copyright page confirms Copyright, 1911 and Published, November, 1911, identifying this as the first edition, first printing.

The book is especially notable for its elaborate original publisher's binding. The dark cloth front cover is extensively decorated in gold with a bold Arts and Crafts-inspired design of fruit, leaves and intertwining foliage surrounding a mounted colour illustration of the heroine. The title and author's name are stamped in gilt, with additional gilt lettering to the spine.

The book contains 22 pictorial illustrations by Arthur I. Keller, including a colour frontispiece and several full-page colour plates. Keller was a prominent American illustrator whose work appeared in many important books and periodicals of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

First published in 1911, The Money Moon is a romantic novel by British author Jeffery Farnol, who became one of the most popular writers of historical romance and adventure fiction of his era. The story follows George Bellew, a wealthy man who leaves America for the English countryside and becomes involved in the lives of a young boy, his aunt Anthea and the rural world of Dapplemere.

This copy is in Near Fine condition, particularly impressive for a book more than 110 years old. The binding remains clean and bright, with the extensive gilt decoration exceptionally well preserved and the mounted cover illustration retaining strong colour. The interior is clean and well preserved.

There is a contemporary gift inscription on the front free endpaper reading:

"For Aunt Geraldine from Donald. Xmas 1912."

Otherwise, the book shows only very minor signs of age and handling. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Details:

Author: Jeffery Farnol
Title: The Money Moon: A Romance
Illustrator: Arthur I. Keller
Publisher: Dodd, Mead & Company, New York
Publication date: November 1911
Edition: First edition, first printing
Pages: 386
Illustrations: 22 pictorial illustrations, including colour plates

Measurements:

Height: 9 3/8 inches
Width: 6 3/4 inches

A well-preserved first edition combining Jeffery Farnol's romantic fiction with Arthur I. Keller's illustrations and an especially attractive gilt-decorated pictorial binding. An excellent example of early 20th-century illustrated book design and a fine addition to a collection of decorative bindings, Edwardian literature or Golden Age illustration.