The Walls of Sand: A True Fairy Story
N.p. Privately Printed, 1885. First edition. 7x5," 19pp. Vignette on title page. String bound in beige printed card wrappers. Light chipping to edges of wraps, clean internally and very good.
Rare booklet from one of the early pioneers of the Puget Sound,, Edward Jay Allen (1830-1915). Unusual for immigrants heading west, Allen was college-educated and single. He settled near Olympia in 1852 after his overland journey from Pennsylvania. Interestingly, Allen negotiated with the local Native Americans to pay for the land before he took up residence. He played an important role in early surveys and road building in the area, before returning east in 1855.
This story, likely written for his children, is told by a fater to his 7-year-old and begins "Once upon a time there was a Prince..." An epic battle ensues between the Fairy Godmother and the Great White King to preserve the wildflowers the Prince loved so well. "If you build these Walls of Sand around the Prince's flowers, the power of the Great White King shall be naught, and the flowers may bloom on forever."
OCLC cites a single holding at the University of Pittsburgh, and we find no mention of this booklet elsewhere. Item #8996
Price: $250.00