Antique 1920s Children’s Book – Motoring by Land, Sea and Air – Illustrated Transport & Aviation – Sunday School Prize 1926–1927
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A wonderfully evocative original 1920s illustrated children’s book, Motoring by Land, Sea and Air captures the excitement, optimism and wonder of the early motor age. Published during the golden era of inter-war children’s gift books, this title explores the dramatic rise of motor cars, buses, aircraft, airships, boats and industrial machinery, all presented in an accessible and engaging way for young readers of the period.
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Written by G. Gibbard Jackson and published by the highly respected Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, this is a classic example of early 20th-century educational publishing, designed to inspire curiosity about modern technology and the rapidly changing world.
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Title
Motoring by Land, Sea and Air
Author
G. Gibbard Jackson
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Publisher
Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd
(incorporating T. C. & E. C. Jack Ltd)
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Date
c. 1926–1927
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This copy can be confidently dated thanks to the original Sunday School prize inscription, awarded during Advent 1926–1927.
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Subject Matter & Contents
This book offers a fascinating snapshot of how transport was understood and celebrated in the 1920s, covering:
The development of the motor car
How early motor engines work
Different types of cars and their uses
Long-distance journeys by motor
Motor works and industry
Aircraft, airships and early aviation
Motor ships and boats
Stories of motorcraft and mechanical progress
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The tone is optimistic, educational and forward-looking — a celebration of modern engineering at a time when motor transport was still new and thrilling.
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Illustrations & Plates
A real highlight of this book is its illustration content:
Colour frontispiece
Multiple coloured plates, all listed and present
Black-and-white illustrations throughout
Strong Art Deco / inter-war graphic style
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Subjects include motor buses, fire engines, ploughs, aircraft, airships and submarines
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The illustrations are bold, charming and highly collectible in their own right, with real display appeal.
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Provenance – Sunday School Prize Copy
This particular copy has excellent historical and social provenance.
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Inside is the original prize label:
> Holy Trinity Sunday School, Ulverston
2nd Prize
Awarded to William Davies
Advent 1926–1927
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Signed by the teacher and vicar.
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Books like this were traditionally given as prizes for achievement and good conduct, making them deeply personal objects and wonderful snapshots of everyday British social history.
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Additionally, the book retains a bookseller / exchange library label from G. Prince, Stationer & Tobacconist, King Street, Ulverston, further rooting it in its original local context.
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Binding & Physical Description
Original illustrated cloth boards
Striking pictorial front cover showing a 1920s motor car and aircraft
Plain cloth rear board
Original endpapers with decorative printed design
Hardcover format
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Condition
General age-related wear consistent with a book of this age
Rubbing, edge wear and surface wear to the boards
Spine wear and softening
Internally sound, with plates present
Pages show gentle toning but remain legible and complete
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This is an honest, untouched antique, not over-restored, retaining all the charm and character of nearly a century of life.
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Perfect For
Collectors of antique and vintage children’s books
Motoring, aviation and transport history enthusiasts
Sunday School prize book collectors
Interior stylists and display decorators
Gifts for lovers of inter-war British history
Film, theatre or prop styling
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Antique children’s book, 1920s transport book, vintage motoring book, early aviation book, Sunday School prize book, Thomas Nelson children’s book, interwar illustrated book, antique aviation illustrations, British children’s history book, vintage transport illustrations, 1920s gift book
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Why This Book Matters
This book is more than a children’s story — it is a time capsule of optimism, capturing a moment when machines promised a brighter, faster future. With its bold illustrations, educational narrative and touching prize inscription, it offers both historical insight and strong decorative appeal.
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A truly charming and collectible piece of early 20th-century British publishing.
