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$74.00
Special Messenger
Illustrated Cloth Novel by Robert W. Chambers, 1909
Movie-Illustrated Edition
The Piece
An early 20th-century illustrated cloth edition of Special Messenger by Robert W. Chambers, presented in its original decorative red boards with embossed floral detailing and a portrait medallion on the cover. This edition incorporates photographic illustrations reproduced from the silent film adaptation, capturing the moment when literature and early cinema began to intersect.
Refined, readable, and visually striking, this volume reflects an era when books were designed to be lived with, displayed, and revisited.
Historical Context
Robert W. Chambers was among the most widely read American authors of the early 1900s, known for blending romance, intrigue, and modern social tension. Special Messenger was published in 1909 during the height of his popularity and later adapted for the screen, prompting the release of illustrated editions that featured stills from the photo-play.
These film-illustrated novels represent an early form of cross-media storytelling, produced at a time when silent films were transforming how audiences consumed narrative and character.
Product Details
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert W. Chambers |
| Title | Special Messenger |
| Publisher | Early 20th-century American trade publisher |
| Date | 1909 (later illustrated issue) |
| Binding | Original decorative red cloth boards |
| Cover Design | Embossed floral motif with portrait medallion |
| Illustrations | Photographic stills from the silent film adaptation |
| Paper | Light, flexible, and highly legible |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Condition | Excellent for age |
Condition & Notes
This book is in excellent condition considering its age. The binding remains sound and secure, allowing the volume to be handled and read comfortably without any feeling of frailty. The pages are notably white, clean, and flexible, retaining clarity and strength uncommon in books from this period.
The decorative cloth cover is in great condition, with strong color presence and only minor, age-appropriate wear. Overall, this is a well-preserved and highly readable example of an early 20th-century illustrated novel.
Why It Belongs in Your Home
Special Messenger brings both visual and cultural weight. Its rich red cloth, period typography, and early film imagery make it an object that reads as confidently closed as it does open.
Placed on a shelf, desk, or styled stack, it adds texture and narrative depth—an artifact from a moment when books were designed to bridge storytelling, design, and emerging media.
From Viridian Eclection
At Viridian Eclection, we curate objects that hold presence through material, history, and intention. Special Messenger survives not as a fragile relic, but as a well-made book meant to be read, displayed, and appreciated. Its appeal lies in its design, its cultural moment, and the quiet confidence of something that has endured.