{"product_id":"the-young-bank-messenger-horatio-alger-jr-copyright-1898-henry-t-coates-co-antique-first-edition","title":"The Young Bank Messenger — Horatio Alger Jr., Copyright 1898, Henry T. Coates \u0026 Co. (Antique First Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe cover says everything about Horatio Alger Jr. in a single image: a boy in a newsboy cap, running at full speed through a city street, an envelope tucked under his arm, tall buildings rising behind him. He is going somewhere. He is going somewhere fast. He is going to make it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat is the Alger formula — and it sold millions of books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Young Bank Messenger\u003c\/em\u003e was published in 1898 by Henry T. Coates \u0026amp; Co. of Philadelphia, as confirmed by the copyright page. Alger died in 1899, making this one of the last books published in his lifetime. The story follows Ernest, a young man navigating a world of outlaws, robberies, deathbed revelations, and Quaker detectives — the chapter titles alone are a masterclass in Victorian adventure plotting:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI. The Lonely Cabin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eII. A Deathbed Revelation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIII. A Successful Robbery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIV. Alone in the World\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVIII. The Quaker Detective\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eX. The Astonished Outlaw\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXVII. In the Robber’s Cave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXVIII. The Outlaw and His Band\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHoratio Alger Jr. wrote more than 100 novels between the 1860s and his death in 1899. His books defined the American myth of upward mobility — the idea that hard work, honesty, and a little luck could take a poor boy from the streets to respectability. The phrase “Horatio Alger story” entered the language as shorthand for that myth and has never left it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe cover illustration is a full-color chromolithograph in the style of late 19th-century boys’ adventure publishing — warm yellows, the running figure, the city skyline. The boards show honest wear. The spine is intact. The pages are complete and legible throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTitle: The Young Bank Messenger\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthor: Horatio Alger Jr.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Henry T. Coates \u0026amp; Co., Philadelphia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCopyright: 1898 — first or very early edition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCover: Full-color chromolithograph — boy running with envelope, city background\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: Good for age — cover wear, spine intact, pages complete\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Foundry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47444371734717,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/7801\/3117\/files\/IMG_8334_2_94740835-9f66-4ec0-90a0-aa7ec432a731.jpg?v=1783258023","url":"https:\/\/thefoundryhlc.com\/products\/the-young-bank-messenger-horatio-alger-jr-copyright-1898-henry-t-coates-co-antique-first-edition","provider":"The Foundry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}