A story of flight, freedom, and adventure — published in Chicago in 1920, illustrated by the author herself.
Author/Illustrator: Florence L. Notter
Publisher: M. A. Donohue & Co., Chicago, IL
Copyright: 1920
Format: Hardcover, red cloth boards
Dimensions: 6.25" x 7.5"
Condition: Good — pages separated from cover but held by threads; owl bookplate on front board with small torn section; pages lightly yellowed, small tears on first two pages, bumped corners; no writing except a black mark on the back flyleaf. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.
Gypsies of the Air is a children's adventure story from M. A. Donohue & Co., a prolific Chicago publisher known in the early 20th century for well-made, accessibly priced books for young readers. Florence L. Notter both wrote and illustrated this volume — a rare combination for the era. The red cloth boards are decorated with an owl bookplate on the front, giving it the quiet authority of a library book that once belonged somewhere meaningful.
A distinctive find for early 20th-century children's book collectors, aviation enthusiasts, or anyone drawn to the particular charm of books from the between-the-wars era.
M. A. Donohue & Co. traced its roots to 1861 as a Chicago bookbinding firm called Cox and Donohue, taking its lasting name in 1901 under founder Michael A. Donohue, an Irish immigrant who had apprenticed as a bookbinder after the Great Chicago Fire. The company became known for inexpensive series editions of children's fiction, publishing from its landmark building on Chicago's Printers Row — now a designated Chicago landmark — well into the mid-20th century.
Browse our shop for more antique children's books and early 20th-century publishing history to round out your collection.
