Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A rare example of early American regional science fiction, this collection features the titular 'Earthomotor' story alongside other speculative tales. Published by a local newspaper press in Oregon, it represents the 'lost' era of sci-fi before the genre was codified by pulp magazines.
Story
In 1915, a small-town Oregon doctor published this vision of a subterranean vehicle capable of boring through the planet. It predates the Golden Age of Sci-Fi, capturing a moment when technology felt like pure magic.
Maker / Origin
Dr. Charles Elvin Linton was a physician from Waldport, Oregon, who balanced his medical practice with a vivid imagination for speculative fiction. The illustrator, Murray Wade, was a prominent Oregon cartoonist and publisher known for his work on 'The Oregon Magazine'.
Condition & Value
The book shows significant shelf wear, including staining on the front board and a weakened, exposed stitched binding. The interior pages appear intact but likely suffer from the acidic paper common to local newspaper presses of this era. Condition reduces value by 50%.
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.