The Bridge Of San Luis Rey (First Boni Paper Book)

New York: Charles Boni Paper Books. VG+/NONE. 1929. 1st Edition Thus. Paperback; 1st Printing. The first of the Boni Paper Books (an experiment in being able to produce a more affordable alternative to hardbound books) . Similar to present day paperbacks, but larger (7-1/2" tall x 5" wide) , and the text block is sewn in, rather than glued. The cover is a very stiff cardboard type of paper, with a background of a light peach color with darker peach colored trees blowing in the wind. Lettering is in black. Same design on both front and back panels. This is a predecessor to present day paperbacks, and is an excellent bit of printing history. The book is straight, clean & very tight. There are a few small flecks of foxing to the page edges, a few faint spots and what looks like a small, faint damp stain on the upper page edges next to the spine, with a slight uneveness to the surface of the spine (no crease from reading) , so it looks like some time in the distant past a splash of water may have hit this book, but it certainly didn't get or stay wet. Few have survived in this condition. ; 7-1/2" tall x 5" wide; 142 pages .