Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization - Two Volumes
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1903. Hardcover. Two folio bound volumes with all of Harper's Weekly issues for 1903. They are a fascinating compilation of articles, events, news, and numerous illustrations documenting the events in the United States and around the world. They offer an enthralling view of the country's concerns and interests at the beginning of the 20th century. Even the advertisements for products and services are quite interesting. Most of the covers continued having political cartoons. Many of the articles throughout the year were on automobiles, technology, and construction. There were weekly columns on "Americans of Tomorrow," and "Books and Bookmen ', and weekly appearances of cartoons by the well-known illustrator of the time Albert Levering. The technology articles are particularly interesting, on such topics as power from sunlight, American wireless technology, around the world in 40 days, lighting a metropolis (New York City), and Germany's suspended electrical train system. President Theodore Roosevelt received much coverage for his many activities outdoors and participating in sports such as horse jumping. He visited the West at Yellowstone, and other locations. The state of Georgia received special attention with many articles on their history and present along with descriptions of their large and small cities. It appears that there may have been supplements to the weekly issues that were not bound here. There is a several page supplement in the July 25 issue on the death of Pope Leopold XIII with several illustrations. Interesting illustrations included four page fold-out of the members of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Supreme Court, and another three page fold-out of Harper's authors that included Mark Twain, Henry James, Thomas Hardy, Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Robert W. Chambers and many others. There were just a few short but provocative items about lynching and about the increase of assaults by black men against white women and the theories why. Bound in black cloth with gilt titling to spine. The spine and corners are chipped and abraded as usual. Covers are slightly worn and rubbed. Interior pages are generally very good. Library reference sticker affixed to rear pastedown is the only indication of library ownership. There is a pagination anomaly, with the December 12 being numbered pages 3-77 with regular numbering resuming in the December 17 issue. Although not entirely, the December 12 issue focused on Christmas with several color illustrations. 2122 pages. PER/062223. Very Good. More