1923 All Aboard

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Original Binding, Publishers' Original Binding, Very Scarce

The first edition, first impression of this special work.  

With numerous charming monochrome vignette illustrations by the celebrated cartoonist H. M. Bateman and others accompanying the text. 

Bearing the bookplate of Nicolas McDowall to the front pastedown. Nicolas McDowall established the Old Stile private press with his wife Frances. Working collaboratively with printmakers and artists, the Old Stile press created beautiful, hand-printed works within idyllic surroundings.  

With a page of contemporary publisher's advertisements at the rear of the work. 

Vanishingly scarce.

All Aboard was the final book produced by Koebel, being written and published within the same year of his death in 1923. The work was intended for passengers aboard ships owned by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company sailing to Latin America. Dubbed "a frivolous book" by Koebel himself, it is a witty ode to the experiences one might have had on these vessels, from marvelling at travelling Italian opera companies, to navigating conversations with the invariably pessimistic "grouser" type.