Description
The Motor Boys in the Clouds
by Clarence Young (Stratemeyer Syndicate)
New York: Cupples & Leon Company, 1910
Pictorial cloth hardcover, illustrated frontispiece.
About this book
Published in 1910, The Motor Boys in the Clouds is a classic early-aviation adventure from the golden age of boys’ series fiction. Ned, Bob, and Jerry take to the skies in their airship, facing danger, mechanical mishaps, and high-altitude excitement as they chase thrills above the clouds. Written just a few years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight, the story captures the wonder and optimism of a world newly obsessed with flight.
This handsome volume features its original pictorial cloth binding with an eye-catching image of the Motor Boys’ flying machine and a dramatic illustrated frontispiece showing an early aircraft in action. It’s a wonderful example of early 20th-century juvenile adventure publishing.
Authorship & the Stratemeyer Syndicate
Although credited to “Clarence Young,” the book was produced by the famous Stratemeyer Syndicate, the powerhouse behind many of the most beloved children’s series of the early 1900s. This title is widely attributed to Howard R. Garis, the prolific author best known for creating the Uncle Wiggily stories and contributing to series such as Tom Swift and The Bobbsey Twins. Books from this era and syndicate are increasingly sought after by collectors of vintage children’s literature.
Condition
Very Good+ pictorial cloth. Boards are clean and well preserved with only light rubbing to the extremities consistent with age; cover illustration remains sharp and appealing. Binding sound and square. Frontispiece present and crisp. Interior pages are generally clean, with normal age-toning but no markings noted. A strong, attractive example of this 1910 Cupples & Leon edition.
Why you’ll love it
- Genuine 1910 printing from the early days of aviation.
- Published 1910 by Cupples & Leon. Original pictorial cloth. Lacks original dust jacket, as typical for this series.
- Connection to the Stratemeyer Syndicate and Howard R. Garis.
- Perfect for collectors of vintage children’s books, early aviation stories, and series fiction.
An appealing and increasingly scarce early aviation title, The Motor Boys in the Clouds makes a charming addition to any shelf of vintage juvenile fiction or an ideal starter piece for a young collector.
