U.S. - An Index to the United States of America; Historical, Geographical and Political: A Handbook of Reference Combining the Curious in U.S. History

Nice condition copy of "U.S. - An Index to the United States of America; Historical, Geographical and Political - A Handbook of Reference Combining the 'Curious' in U.S. History" compiled by Malcolm Townsend. 1890 1st edition; D. Lothrop Company; Boston. The book is nicely illustrated with four color maps (one of which is fold-out), five pages of badges in color, two pages of flags in color, color maps on the end papers, dozens of black & white in-text illustrations, and facsimile signatures. There is an Index at the back.

From the Preface: "The history of the United States is packed with curious. In the dryest of statistics lurks the seed of romance, from the most ponderous fact may be squeezed the juice of fantasy, upon the solidest column of figures may be reared the quaintest and most bizarre conceits. Such studies are fascinating, and when departing from the ruts, we make an excursion into the region where oddities abound and coincidences are startling, we can find in almost every department of human information something to interest, instruct, and amuse. The mass of curious facts, coincidences and information-items from which this book is evolved is the accumulation of years of research, study and scrap-book making; it is the result of patient delving into unexplored regions of fact and the opening up of undeveloped mines of figures by one who has found in such work alike a fascination and a pastime in the midst of duties quite foreign to such labor."

Condition:
Clean covers and spine; sharp corners. Tight binding with no cracks and no loose pages. There is a 2" paper tears at the gutter between the rear end paper and pastedown (see photos). The inside of the book is in excellent condition - the pages are lightly age-toned but clean with only an inscription written in pen on the title page (see photos). There is a charming, previous owner's bookplate (of a black cat standing on a stack of books) affixed to a front end paper. Overall the book is in Very Good+ condition.