Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A classic 1920s adventure novel featuring a frontispiece by the legendary 'Dean of Illustrators,' Dean Cornwell. This edition is a contemporary reprint of the Cosmopolitan first edition, bound in the publisher's characteristic green ribbed cloth.
Story
Peter B. Kyne was a war veteran who lied about his age to fight in the Philippines before becoming a prolific novelist. This 1923 tale of a San Francisco businessman and a South Sea princess was so popular it was adapted into films twice.
Maker / Origin
Grosset & Dunlap were the kings of the 'photoplay' and popular reprint era, making bestsellers affordable for the masses. The real star here is illustrator Dean Cornwell, whose dramatic murals and magazine work earned him the title 'Dean of Illustrators' and influenced a generation of American artists.
Condition & Value
The green cloth shows some light wear and minor staining on the front cover. The interior pages appear clean with typical age-toning, and the frontispiece is well-preserved. The lack of a dust jacket is the primary factor limiting its market value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.