(Born: 1835; Died: 1896) American author & traveler.

Biographical references: ABA: I 917, 35-42. • Adams, Dictionary of American Authors, 1904. • Appleton Cyclopedia of American Biography. • Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography. • National Cyclopedia of American Biography. • WBI.

The Underground World, 1880

1. English, 1880.
The | Underground World: | A Mirror Of | Life Below The Surface, | With Vivid Descriptions Of The | Hidden Works Of Nature And Art. | Comprising | Incidents And Adventures Beyond The Light Of Day. | Interesting Sketches | Of | Mines And Mining In All Parts Of The World - Caves And Their | Mysteries - Famous Tunnels - Down In The Depths Of The Sea | Volcanoes And Their Eruptions - Petroleum - Under- | Ground LifeOf Man And The Lower Animals. | Subterranean Works Of The Ancients. | Buried Treasures, ect., ect. | [rule] | Profusely Illustrated. | [rule] | By Thos. W. Knox, | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | Hartford: | The J.B. Burr Publishing Co. | 1880.

8°: [3]-942 p., frontispiece, illus.

Contents: [Frontispiece].; [3-4], Title page, verso "Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, ..."; [5]-6, "Preface."; 7-23, "Contents."; 24-26, "Illustrations."; 27-942, Text.

Very scarce. A view of the underworld written in a pleasing narrative style filled with anecdotes and stories, some of which are fanciful. Imitating other writers such as Simonin's La vie Souterraine (1867), from which he appears to copy much information on mines and miners, Knox writes in 66 chapters about gold, silver, diamonds, coal, etc. Interspersed are good quality engraved illustrations showing mining scenes, etc.

Another issue: The text was also issued by the publisher under the title: Underground, or Life Below the Surface.

Bibliographical references: NUC. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 3479. • USGS Library Catalog.

2. English, 1882 [Revised edition].
The | Underground World: | A Mirror Of | Life Below The Surface, | With Vivid Descriptions Of The | Hidden Works Of Nature And Art. | Comprising | Incidents And Adventures Beyond The Light Of Day. | Interesting Sketches | Of | Mines And Mining In All Parts Of The World - Caves And Their | Mysteries - Famous Tunnels - Down In The Depths Of The Sea | Volcanoes And Their Eruptions - Petroleum - Under- | Ground Life Of Man And The Lower Animals. | Subterranean Works Of The Ancients. | Buried Treasures, ect., ect. | [rule] | Profusely Illustrated. | [rule] | By Thos. W. Knox, | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | Hartford: | The J.B. Burr Publishing Co. | 1882.

8°: [1]-1016 p. A revised, enlarged and rearranged text, now describing things from the earth in 71 chapters. Page size: 224 x 146 mm. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: NUC. • Sinkankas, Gemology Bibliography, 1993: no. 3480.

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