Bidspirit auction | 1921. Dow, Charles Mason. Anthology

1921. Dow, Charles Mason. Anthology and Bibliography of Niagara Falls. State of New York. Two Volumes. - A two-volume set titled Anthology and Bibliography of Niagara Falls, authored by Charles Mason Dow, LL.D., former Commissioner of the State Reservation at Niagara. This comprehensive historical and bibliographical reference was published by the State of New York and printed by the J. B. Lyon Company, Printers, in Albany, 1921. The set is bound in the original blue cloth with gilt-stamped lettering and decorative borders on the spines. Volume I features a black and white frontispiece portrait of the author. The work is heavily illustrated throughout with black and white plates, engravings, and photographs depicting the falls in various seasons and historical periods, including scenes from the 1780s through the late 19th century. Volume I contains a color plate titled VIEW OF THE AMERICAN FALL Taken from Goat Island, noted as painted and engraved by W. J. Bennett and published by Henry I. Megarey. A large fold-out diagram titled SECTION ALONG NIAGARA RIVER FROM ABOVE THE FALLS TO BELOW QUEENSTON is included at the rear of one volume, showing geological elevations in feet above mean sea level. The text includes travelers' original accounts, Seneca legends, and scientific data regarding the preservation of the falls. The set is in good antiquarian condition. The blue cloth bindings show shelf wear, with fraying and minor loss of material at the spine heads and tails (photo 1). The corners are bumped and rubbed with some exposure of the underlying boards. Gilt lettering on the spines remains legible but shows minor dulling. Internally, the pages exhibit light toning consistent with age and occasional foxing, primarily visible on the edges and endpapers. The color plate in Volume I is bright and well-preserved (photo 9). The fold-out geological section is intact with original fold lines (photo 7). There is a small area of surface abrasion or adhesive residue on the upper right corner of the front board of Volume II (photo 15). No significant tears or missing pages are observed in the provided images.