The Clouds and Fogs of San Francisco
San Francisco: A. M. Robertson (printed at The Philopolis Press), 1912. Mathews, Arthur F. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo size, 118 pp., inscribed by Alexander McAdie. Near fine / very good. Item #26021101
This volume is a thorough examination of weather patterns in the city of San Francisco, famous for its year-round fog, written by American meteorologist Alexander McAdie (1863-1943). McAdie made many advances in the field of meteorology and was also in charge of the U.S. Weather Bureau in San Francisco from 1903 to 1913. He takes a scientific approach to analysing the effects of fog on the climate of the city, and the book is filled with quantitative data as well as numerous tipped-in photographs of cloud formations and fog around the area.
The scientific nature of the volume is brought to life through the artwork: the frontispiece is a reproduction of a painting by Arthur F. Mathews (1860-1945), the owner of The Philopolis Press, who was one of the founders of the Arts and Crafts Movement in America. Mathews' painting demonstrates his skill as a landscape painter, with minimal contrast and attentive use of colour to define the scene. In addition, there are an additional nineteen photographs bound in throughout (see details below).
This copy inscribed by McAdie thus: "Mr. and Mrs. Richardson / from / Alexander and Mary McAdie / San Francisco / December 1911". Apparently the author received some copies in advance to inscribe, as the publication date is 1912. Inscribed copies a bit uncommon, as of this writing we see no other copies online signed or inscribed by McAdie.
___DESCRIPTION: Full grey paper over boards, title in gilt with gilt border and illustration on the front board, gilt lettering and ruled borders on the spine, fore- and bottom edges uncut, inscribed by Alexander McAdie on the half-title as set forth above, frontispiece a full-colour reproduction of a painting by Arthur F. Mathews, tipped in with tissue guard and with the caption "From Ocean's breast to the expectant fields I come", title page in red and black with a small line drawing, chapter headpieces of stylized poppies, decorative initial capital letters open each chapter, black-and-white vignettes as chapter tailpieces throughout, nineteen tipped-in black-and-white photographs throughout, several black-and-white charts regarding rainfall in San Francisco at the back of the book; octavo size (8 1/4" by 5 3/4"), pagination: [i-xi] 1-106 [107]. The dust jacket is of matching grey paper to that covering the boards, printed on the front panel is, in grey, a mirror of the design on the front cover.
___CONDITION: Volume near fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings; a minute amount of wear to the head and tail of the spine, some light sunning to the edges of the boards and to the spine, else fine. The dust jacket very good, we had a professional (name available upon request) repair a split to the jacket at the front joint, it is now strong and sturdy, while clean, there is a fair amount of sunning to the front panel and spine, the spine also with a few light spots of soil, some light sunning to the edges of the back panel, and overall light wear at the edges including a few short closed tears.
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Price: $150.00