Item #5864 Around the World. H. COLVIN.
Around the World

Around the World

Glens Falls, NY: Glens Falls Times Office, 1883. First Edition, First Printing. Original wraps. 5 7/8 X 9 1/8 Inches. 32 PP. Very Good. Item #5864

First printing copy of this first-hand account of a trip around the world performed in 1882 for the readers of the Glens Falls Times daily newspaper. The author, H. Colvin, holds little back in his descriptions of the people and places he encounters along the way. Colvin documented his trip from Glens Falls to Omaha, San Francisco, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Canton, Singapore, Calcutta, Delhi, Cairo, Alexandria, London and Paris in letters mailed back to the Times office for publication. It is easy to see how the average reader of these letters in New York at the time of publication would be greatly influenced by the opinions of the author. Many of the opinions and observations detailed by Colvin are insensitive and racist by today's standards. Original wraps a bit rubbed and a stain to lower front cover. Advertisements to covers. OCLC locates only "2" copies of this publication.

A few selected quotes:

"Omaha is a brisk town of 35,000 inhabitants, but has horrid streets and walks. I think a first-class fire would benefit the town." (Letter dated August 10, 1882)

"At every station leaving Omaha we see plenty of redskins. The men are a lazy, greasy looking set of fellows." (Letter dated August 14, 1882)

"On every corner is a tea stand, where the fat, greasy Chinaman sits fanning himself and sipping his tea." (Letter dated October 10, 1882 from Hong Kong).

Price: $250.00

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