N by E by Rockwell Kent, Illustrated by Rockwell Kent, First Trade Edition, 1930

Kent, Rockwell. N by E. New York: New York Literary Guild, 1930. Printed by Lakeside Press, Chicago. First trade edition. In the publisher's original tan boards, embossed in green to front and spine, missing dust jacket. Illustrated with numerous woodcut illustrations. 

Presented is a first trade edition of Rockwell Kent’s N by E. Published by the New York Literary Guild in 1930, this book was printed under supervision of William A. Kitteredge at the famous Lakeside Press in Chicago. The book is presented in its original tan boards, embossed in green to the front and spine, but is missing its original dust jacket. The book is profusely illustrated with full page and half-page woodcut illustrations by Kent. 

N by E is Kent's account of his voyage on the 33-foot cutter Direction in 1929. Leaving from New York Harbor and traveling to the rugged shores of Greenland, Kent and two friends set out on a painting expedition but were shipwrecked while 50 miles from their destination. After crashing in a fjord, the expedition story shifts to one of survival, salvage of their vessel, and life among the native Greenlanders. Expertly illustrated by Kent's woodblocks and narrated in his poetic and astute writing style, N by E is not just a travelog, but also a testament to the artistry and creative prowess of Rockwell Kent. 

Upon the book’s release, The New York Times' Book Review wrote the following: “N by E, a ‘Record of Expeditioning North by East across Baffin Bay and Beyond,’ is a pungent narrative, true adventuring and a rich portfolio of original woodcuts. There was no reason for the expedition- and in that lies much of the enjoyment of it, the enjoyment for the reader, that is; the small crew of Southern Vikings all but lost their lives in the icy waters of a Greenland fjord… N by E should prove a highly popular gift book, as it combines striking originality, due to the originality of the adventure, with sufficiently active narrative and a generous sheaf of pictures by a man who is a master of his craft.”

CONDITION:

Good condition overall. In original tan boards, embossed in green on the front and spine. Lacking original dust jacket. Light staining to front and back boards, staining and bumping to the  spine. Internally clean, with only some light toning. Illustrated with numerous black and white full and half-page woodblock illustrations by Kent. 

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.