Boston: Loring, Publisher, 1870. Although Horatio Alger (1832-1899) attempted adult fiction, he was more comfortable with "Boy's Books. "The Luggage Boy" is the fifth volume in Alger's "Ragged Dick" Series, which began in 1867 and was his first real success. Alger eventually published something like 100 novels, generally following the same format. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Green cloth binding with extensive blindstamping; title on spine is gilt, along with an image of Dick himself at the foot. Clean text; 290 pages. Frontis illustration opposite a list of his "Successful J... View More...
Boston: Loring, Publisher, 1870. Although Horatio Alger (1832-1899) attempted adult fiction, he was more comfortable with "Boy's Books. "Ruus and Rose"is the sixth, and last, title in Alger's "Ragged Dick" Series, which began in 1867 and was his first real success. Alger eventually published something like 100 novels, generally following the same format; the story lines are pretty-much interchangeable. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Embossed green cloth binding with gilt on the spine (the design has a figure of Dick at its foot). Clean text; 292 pages. Alger ends the book with ... View More...
New York: J. & J. Harper, 1833. Ann Hasseltine Judson (1789-1826) is acknowledged as the first American female overseas missionary; she also translated several books of the Bible into Burmese and Thai. This is a Very Good Plus copy of the First Edition, Number Fifteen of the "Boys and Girls Library." A very sweet little book. Dark brown pebbled cloth binding with gilt lettering on the spine. Frontis portrait of Ann Judson. Clean text; 227 pages (6 pages in the front describing the series). Text is bright and with only scattered foxing and some light floodmarks. There are some pressed leaf desi... View More...
Dublin: Bentham and Hardy, 1825. By an unknown author, possibly an in-house production of the publisher, who was active in the 1820s and 30s. This is a Very Good copy of the First (and only known) Edition. A rare title, held by three major UK universities, as well as Trinity Dublin's collection of children's literature. Full leather binding with six gilt rules and titling on the spine. Clean text; 178 pages, very bright and clear. Frontis illustration of a war canoe. Bumps, slight splay, mild rub. The front cover has cracked at the spine but is holding well. . First Edition. Full-Leather. Very... View More...
New York: Hurst & Company, 1914. Originally published by Jacobs in 1908; this is a Very Good Plus copy of a reprint edition. Beautiful, delightful color illustrations throughout. Unpaginated (21 pages). Very light wear and soil for a children's book; lightly rubbed and bumped. There is no author designated, but Quercus suggests a possible association with the children's author Alfred Crowquill, a pseudonym for Alfred Henry Forrester (1804-1872), whose children's rhymes were published by Thomas Nelson in the 1870s. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Reprint.. Hard Cover. Very Good Plus/No Jacket. View More...
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1929. Surely one of the cutest little Irishmen of all time graces the cover of this classic children's book, part of the famous series. Brandeis (1897-1937) also wrote for the films and was immensely popular until her untimely death in an auto accident. This is a Very Good copy of the reprinted edition, lacking the dustjacket. 191 pages. Illustrated with photographs taken by the author in Ireland. Minor wear to the edges and light soiling. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Reprint. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. Illus. by Madeline Brandeis. View More...
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1890. First published in 1886; this is a Very Good copy of a Later Printing. Decorative green cloth binding, stamped in red, black, and gilt, showing the Lord & his dog, with a few rampant lions thrown in for good measure. Clean text; 209 pages and 16 pages of publisher's adverts in the rear. Many illustrations, including among the ads. Bumped, with a moderate bit of soiling. There is a label on the foot of the spine with the number "64;" perhaps indicating a library, but there are no other indications. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Later Printing.. Decora... View More...
London & New York: Frederick Warne and Co., 1895. Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was the most influential children's book illustrator of the late 19th Century; the American Library Association gives a prize every year named in his honor. This is a Fine copy of a posthumous collection (obviously, the second in the series). There is no publication date, but the book matches the points for a Frederick Ware "first," and Copac generally agrees on 1895; who is Quercus to object to that? Highly decorative binding; a greenish tan cloth with a stamped illustration of many of the characters enjoying a f... View More...
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1933. The story of a beloved wire-haired terrier by the famous Czech author of "War with the Newts" Ostensibly a children's book, it is far beyond that, remains popular today, and is still in print. The early editions are scarce. Illustrated with drawings and photos, probably a collaboration with Capek's brother Joseph. Dashenka appeared on a stamp issued by the Czech Republic in 2010. This is a Very Good copy of the First American Edition (printed in England from the same plates). Translation from the Czech is by M. & R. Weatherall. Rust-colored cloth binding... View More...
London: George Allen & Unwin, 1933. The story of a beloved wire-haired terrier by the famous Czech author of "War with the Newts" Ostensibly a children's book, it remains popular today but early editions are quite scarce. Illustrated with drawings and photos, a collaboration with Capek's brother Joseph. Dashenka appeared on a stamp issued by the Czech Republic in 2010. This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of the Second Impression, published the same month as the first printing. Illustrated paper-covered boards, rather worn; in an archival plastic protector. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Second ... View More...
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1933. The Capek brothers were leading lights in early 20th-century modernism; Karel wrote speculative fiction that is always on lists of the top titles. Joseph was murdered in the camps; Karel beat the Nazis by dying before they could get him. Here is one of their joint projects, a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of the First American Edition, which is less common than the English version. Translation from the original Czech by M. and R. Weatherall. Tan cloth binding, with green illustrated front cover, green titles on the spine. Clean text; 288 pages. Lack... View More...
Philadelphia: Henry T. Coates & Co., 1881. "Harry Castlemon" [Charles Austin Fosdick, 1842-1915] was a prolific author of juvenile and "boy's books" in the post-Civil War period. He said "Boys don't like fine literature. What they want is adventure..." (Wikipedia). This is part of his "Roughing It Series," a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition. An uncommon title. Orange decorative cloth binding. Camping scene, with tent and kettle, in black and silver on the front cover. The sp[ine is titled in black and silver, with decorations of oak leaves and crossed rifles. Clean text; vii, then c... View More...
New York: The Macmillan Co., 1925. After immigration to America, Irish poet Padraic Colum ( ) issued several books of fairy tales and classics intended for young people; he often collaborated with the great illustrators of the day, such as Boris Artzybasheff. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition. Black cloth binding, decorated in green and gilt. Clean text; 148 pages. Gorgeous decorated endpapers. A solid copy, with some rubbing at the margins and fading on the spine. Buy it for your child and enjoy it yourself.. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. Il... View More...
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1924. Although intended for young readers, Padraic Colum's retellings of classical history and myth can be enjoyed by all ages; it is truly enhanced by illustrations by the great Wilford Jones. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition [stated "Published September, 1924"]. Brick red cloth binding, titled on the front cover and with a mounted warrior in black; titling on the spine in gilt with black decorations. Clean text; xxiv, 265 pages; illustrated endpapers and colour frontis; other black-and-white throughout. Small bookseller label on FFEP; spine sligh... View More...
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1924. Three stories for 6-8 year-olds by the great Irish author. This is a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of the First Edition, part of "The Little Library." Not common. Blue cloth binding with illustration and titling in black on the front cover; black titling on the spine. Clean text; 65 pages. Illustrated endpapers, frontis, and seven other delightful illustrations by Lois Lenski, who would become a Newberry-winning author herself. With a charming bookplate on the front cover. Light bumps and very light rub to margins of the spine; top a bit dusty. Rathe... View More...
New York: The Macaulay Company, 1925. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition. Although technically a children's book, it can be enjoyed by all. Gray decorative cloth binding. Titled in black, with a Spanish galleon on the front cover in black and gilt. The spine sports a gilt dolphin as well as the black titling. Clean text; viii, 188 pages. Colour frontis and numerous black and white illustrations by the great Welsh artist Wilford Jones. Hints of rubbing to the margins. A nice copy.. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine/No Jacket. Illus. by Wilfred Jones. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tal... View More...
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937. One of Colum's books intended for young readers, but enjoyable for all ages. First publ;ished in October 1923. This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of a Later Printing (3rd) of the "New Edition." Red cloth binding, with titling and Arabic decoration on the spine and front cover in black. Clean text; xxxii, 371 pages; decorative endpapers. Colour frontis and numerous black-and-white illustrations throughout by Eric Pape. No dustjacket. Mild bumps, rubbing to head and foot of spine, which has darkened. A solid copy but marred by a splash mark across the front c... View More...
Dobbs Ferry, New York: Clermont Press, 1936. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition, rather scarce, particularly in collector's condition. Very bright yellow and black illustrated cloth binding. Mild bit of splay and a bit of foxing to paste-downs, else Fine. Aside from a contemporary (1936) gift inscription on the Title Page, text is completely clean. The dustjacket is complete, including the fragile original tissue liner. The color is unfaded except for the spine, which is also rubbed to the point of chipping; small red label dot on the foot. Quite a nice copy; in an archival plastic ... View More...
London, Edinburgh, New York, Toronto, and Paris: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1924. Edith Elise Cadogan (1859-1933) became a popular author of "adventures for girls" such as this,a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Gray cloth binding with a nice illustration in red and black of the girls paddling a canoe; on the spine is a figure dressed for the snow country. Titling is in black. Clean text; frontis illustration and three others within; 327 pages, with a four-page publisher's catalog in the rear. Mildly bumped; top edge a bit dusty; rubbing at the foot of the spine has affected only the "E" of the... View More...
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891. The second published book by Davis, who in the future would make a great reputation as a war correspondent. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First American Edition, with cover, title page, and copyright page matching dates. Not a common book. Variant gray-green cloth binding, titled in gilt, with decorations with the theme of sports (bats and racquets). Clean text; viii, 204 pages, roughly-cut. Frontis illustration and five others. Lacking the point of issue on page 91; therefore not the first printing. There is a contemporary inscription on the ... View More...
