FIRE FIGHTERS AND THEIR PETS; WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS REPRODUCED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1907. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo, 9 1/4" x 6 1/2." pp. xvi, 185. No dust jacket. Red cloth boards, slightly faded and soiled around the edges, corners bumped with two corners showing, moderate wear to top and bottom of spine. Very small tear to bottom hinges. Silver letters on spine fading. Attractive black and silver illustrated front cover with pasted down photograph. 85 illustrations. Previous owner's name to front free endpaper. Interior pages bright and clean. Good Plus. Item #85913
Delightful book recalling the gallant deeds of NYC firemen. Written by the secretary of the NY Fire Department. Downes's tells numerous entertaining anecdotes, but he also provides a description of the day-to-day duties of firemen, the perils they face, the technology they use, and the bonds they form with firehouse dogs and, yes, firehouse monkeys (!). Above all, Downes romanticizes the profession, writing "They are guardians of modern life, and they are also among the heroes of modern romance" (xi).
Price: $250.00