1910 Star People Book, Antique Astrology & Mythology, Illustrated First Edition

There are over 160 million books in the world, and you landed on this one; maybe you were meant to...An exceedingly rare and genuine date-stamped 1910 first edition, first printing, now 115 years old and in remarkably well-preserved condition (the finest I have ever seen). Please note that this is not one of the later redos; this is the October 1910 first release edition (dated three times by the publisher). Bound in Cambridge at the Riverside Press, est. 1852. This is the only edition I have ever encountered with the yellow typography, crown, shawl, and stars. After extensive research, no other surviving 1910 listings have been found by any institutions at this time.

INCLUDING A MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF ARTWORK BY Frances Bassett Comstock. She lived from 1880 to 1922, passing away at the relatively young age of 42, leaving behind a legacy of illustrated works that captured the charm of Edwardian-era storytelling.

Here are some of the subjects discussed: the zodiac, starships, the shining ones, the lady of the moon, bewitchments, mythology, astronomy, the star people, life after death, Andromeda, the ancients, dragons, Perseus, Hercules, the sun god, Phaeton, the garden of Orion, the zodiac, the old mythologies, starland, the zodiac people, spaceships, radiant spirits, divine law, celestial beings, other realms, and more.

I have verified the publication data of this book across multiple sources, referencing the cataloged documents held by the following institutions: Google Books Literary Archives, the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, and Cornell University. I even found the original 1910 advertisement for it in the 1910 volume of the Atlantic Monthly.

"'What is the first Rule of the Sky?' asked Cassiopeia, and they all recited in unison: —A Place for Everything; and Everything in its Place."

" The stars sang together at the little maiden's birth; They watched her through the years of gladness and of tears, and they said: ' She'll come to dwell with us when she shall leave the Earth. " She shall bring an earthly blessing in which we have no part; We can only shine by night when the sun has sunk from sight."

"That is the poetry," said the Princess, " and this is very genuinely true: Old Sol makes a visit and spends a little while every year in each of the Houses of the Zodiac."

As you can tell from my section titled "Fairy Tales," I have many books on the subject, with tales from all over the world dating back to the very beginning of folklore and mythology, and I must say, this book is not your everyday fairy tale... This is the story of the Star People and the mythologies of the skies. It is an incredibly fascinating book that delves into the magical, historical, and esoteric realms. An interesting note about this book is that it discusses spaceships, which is odd because it wasn't until 1914 that people started using airplanes for travel. In 1910, when this book was released, no spaceships existed; almost half a century later, in 1957, the Soviet Union produced the first spacecraft. This is a scarce, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind story. It is exceptionally scarce in good condition, and even more so as a first edition, first printing. It features a marvelous collection of artwork that has been meticulously well-kept. The artist Frances Comstock's illustrations are characterized by meticulous detail and a delicate hand. She was most famous for her intricate engravings of the natural world and her etymological expertise. I have sprinkled this listing with some of my favorite passages from the book to better understand what it entails. Another interesting note is that this book was priced at $1.50 upon its release in October 1910; that may not sound like much at today's going rate, but it would equate to about $50 today, a very pricey book back in 1910. They don't make them this good anymore and probably never will... I would snag this one before she disappears...

"In the middle of the vastest ocean or the widest plain, all they have to do is look up and see where the Star People are; then they'll know where they are and where to go to be somewhere else. Of course, the Star People can't help anyone who doesn't know them."

"The Sky was dark and deep and crowded with stars. They sat very still and mysterious while a wind came out of Beyond. They could hear it turning back the leaves in the treetops — saying, "H — ss-sh —" as it passed through, and all the stars winked."

"I'm going to show you. These twelve great cages make a splendid ring around the Sky — Houses, the Star People call them."

"What do the Star People see that is hidden from our eyes, where the ramparts of hills rise black in the North, against the flame of the skies? Ranks beyond the ranks of radiant Spirits! They stand in dazzling circles, and a golden censer swings from each one's hand. From the Shining Ones' censers, softly swinging, streams of pure radiance float and ascend. One with their rhythm, the deep, swelling harmonies blend. Like music heard faintly in dreams —first afar — it draws near Till the triumphant chant sweeps into the Star People's hearts: Then, joyous and clear: — "The Heavens declare the glory —" There follows a gush, A bursting in a spray of the sound, as it pours like a wave In its overwhelming rush! The splendor ineffable blinds them; their hearts fill with awe, and reverence — they know not for what; all the Power they know is their Law. Yet Law is obedient to this Nameless One, Whose glory all Creation sings; and shall be While the Ages run! "Might, Power, Dominion—" Still the censers swing; The Heavens declare, in light upsurging still, The glory of the King. May not the Star Folk, little sisters mine, Faint shadows though they are — and still obedient To Law divine - Declare His glory, Whom they may not know; And in the Northern Lights His worship see, As we below?

The book introduces readers to "Star People," suggesting that the constellations and stars in the night sky are not just inanimate objects but are inhabited by beings with their own stories and interactions. This narrative approach combines traditional mythology with imaginative new tales.
Main Characters: The story revolves around a group of children, notably a girl called the Princess and her friends. These characters embark on adventures that often take them into the realm of the stars, where they engage with celestial beings.

The overall condition of this book is very good despite being printed before the Titanic set sail over a century ago. The covers and spine have light age and shelf wear, but are in exceptional condition for this age. The interior pages are naturally age-toned with some natural paper foxing here and there. This book is tightly bound, "not floppy." It is complete and remarkably well-preserved, it is without question the finest I have ever owned or seen.

THE ARTIST:
Frances B. Comstock is best known as an illustrator, particularly for her contributions to natural history illustration.

Full Name: Frances Beatrice Johnston Comstock
Born: January 25, 1878
Died: January 20, 1962

Natural History Illustration: Frances Comstock was renowned for her detailed and scientifically accurate illustrations of natural subjects. Her work often appeared in textbooks and scientific publications.
Collaboration with Husband: She married John Henry Comstock, a prominent entomologist, and collaborated with him on many of his works. Together, they produced some of the most respected entomological texts of their time, where her illustrations played a crucial role in educational and scientific contexts.