The Secret of the Waters | W.J. van Voorst | Antique Boys' Book 1913

A beautifully designed Dutch adventure book from circa 1913. Het Geheim der Wateren [The Secret of the Waters] by W.J. van Voorst Jr. was published by the Amsterdam publisher H.C.A. Campagne & Zoon and takes the reader into an adventure story full of travel, technology, and danger.

The book is bound in a striking red cloth publisher's binding with a richly decorated front cover in multiple colors. Inside, the story contains 280 pages and is supplemented with four full-page illustration plates. All four original plates are still present, one of which is loose at the back of the book.

With scenes involving a submarine, hot air ballooning, long-distance travel, and adventures in South America, the book is a characteristic example of the Dutch boys' book from the early twentieth century.

In the front, there is also an old, handwritten inscription with the text “In Memory of Your Friends.”

A now-antique children's book that is particularly notable for its beautiful original binding, large format, and completely preserved set of illustration plates.

Details

• Title: Het Geheim der Wateren
• Subtitle: Een verhaal voor Jongens [A Story for Boys]
• Author: W.J. van Voorst Jr.
• Publisher: H.C.A. Campagne & Zoon
• Place: Amsterdam
• Date: ca. 1913
• Language: Dutch
• Pages: 280
• Illustrations: 4 full-page plates
• Binding: original red decorated cloth publisher's binding
• Dimensions: ca. 24.5 × 18 cm
• Thickness: ca. 4 cm
• Condition: clear signs of age and use. Wear and discoloration to the binding, heavily worn spine, fraying at the head and tail, weak binding and visible damage at the hinges. Paper is age-toned with localized spots. One illustration plate is loose at the back. All four plates are present.