By Edgar Rice Burroughs. Illustrated by John Coleman Burroughs.

By Richard Van. 3-3/4" x 2-5/8". 32 pgs. stapled.

Softcover version.

Author's first book.  First edition, first impression, with code "P6" in gutter of page 199.  Octavo. [x], 199, [7, blank] pages. Maroon cloth with spine stamped in gilt, dust jacket.

Movie photo edition.

By Ted McCall.

Cartoons from BALLYHOO Magazine in Big Little Book format.

Movie photo edition.

By Alex Raymond.

Illustrated by Hal Arbo. First Lone Ranger BLB.

Selected by Houdini, the world's greatest magician.

Written by Phil Nowlan. Illustrated by Lt. Dick Calkins.

First Terry And The Pirates BLB.

By Fred Harman.

Written and illustrated by Fred Harman, creator of Bronc Peeler.

By Leon Morgan.

Cocomalt ad on back cover.

Based on the King Features strip.

Universal cartoon.

Adapted from the Max Fleischer-Paramount Talkartoon.

Authorized TV edition.

First Red Ryder BLB.

Adapted from the famous newspaper comic strip by Clifford McBride.

First edition, first issue in the first issue first state dust jacket with the reading "Katharine Barclay" in the blurb on the front flap. Octavo. Original black cloth, printed gold labels to spine and upper board.  One of 510 numbered copies signed by the author.

First state of text without disclaimer and earliest state of dustwrapper with "Katherine Barclay" reading

The original dustjacket shall have the $2.50 price present and the first issue point with "Sun Also Rises" and "Men without Women" titles listed on back panel of the dustjacket. 

"[Hemingway’s] first full-length novel and probably his best, closely rivaled by To Have and Have Not. Its success was so enormous that it may be said to have ended Hemingway’s influence as a writer. After it one could no more imitate that musical crystal-clear style; blown like glass from the white-heat of violence" (Cyril Connolly, The Modern Movement, 60).

Based on the famous newspaper strip featuring the character created by Earl Derr Biggers. Drawn by Alfred Andriola.

As told by Harold Sherman. Pictured by Ferd Himme. Softcover. Photo cover.

Softcover. Adapted from the newspaper comic strip by C. D. Russell.

By Zane Grey.

Softcover. Adapted from the motion picture story of the same title. Novelized by Charles T. Clinton. A Mascot picture.

Based on the famous comic strip "The Gumps."

Based on the famous newspaper strip by Fred Harman.

Movie tie-in.

By Bill Conselman and Charlie Plumb.

Selected by Houdini, the world's greatest magician. Cocomalt ad on back cover.

As retold by Lewis Graham and illustrated with scenes from the Twentieth Century Picture. Movie photo edition.

Octavo. 318 pages. Original pictorial dust jacket. Five inserted plates by J. Allen St. John. Publisher's blue cloth with red titles. Top edge red.

By Milton Caniff.

A Circle J story by Cleve Endicott. Illustrated by Henry Muheim.

By Chester Gould. First BLB and first Dick Tracy.

By Harold Gray.

An original story about the star of Thimble Theatre by Segar.

Adapted from the famous newspaper strip by Lyman Young. Oblong hardcover.

By Martha Orr. Based on the famous newspaper strip.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

From the novel by Edward Eggleston. Fictionized by Edward Finney. Movie photo edition. With Norman Foster, Charlotte Henry, Tommy Bupp.

By Fran Striker. Based on the famous radio series.

By Glenn F. Chesnut. Illustrated by the Author.

5 1/2" x 4 7/8"

A Universal Picture. Movie tie-in with photo cover and interiors. Adapted from the famous newspaper cartoon strip by Hal Forrest.

By Howard R. Garis.

By William Heyliger. Illustrated by Robert A. Graef.

By Chester Gould.

By Mark Twain. Illustrated with new drawing by Henry E. Vallely.

Novelized from the motion picture based on a story by Grant Taylor. Universal Studios movie photo edition.

By Irving Crump.

3"x 3-5/8".

Adventures of the Canadian Royal Mounted by Ted McCall. Softcover. Cocomalt ad on theback cover.

First edition, first printing. Oblong octavo. Original green cloth, title to spine gilt, image pasted down to front board. Walt Disney Studio black and white cartoon illustrations throughout.  The book contains several short story adaptations of Mickey Mouse cartoons of the time.

By Norman Marsh. 3-3/4" x 3-1/2".

By Harold Gray. 3"x 3-5/8".

By Walt Disney.

Ken Maynard movie photo edition.

First American edition, first printing. Octavo. 429 pages. Publisher's original beige boards and matching cloth backstrip with titles in gilt on the spine. Full numberline on copyright page with 1 present.

Jacket priced at $6.95 at the front flap, first issue with British reviews on the rear panel with a rabbit and compass illustration at the top, author's photo at the rear flap, shelf wear at the edges, darkening at the jacket spine, spots on the jacket, tear at the head of the front panel.

Beware of later printing with 1974 date on copyright page, these are worth a fraction of true first printing's price.

By Harold Gray. 3"x 3-5/8".

First edition of the second collection of Lovecraft's work, and the fourth Arkham House publication. Collected by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei. One of approximately 1,200 copies printed. Octavo. [xxx], [462] pages. Publisher's full black cloth, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, dust jacket

Walt Disney Studios.

By William Ritt and Clarence Gray.

A Don Ramon Western. By James O. Parsons. Illustrated by J. R. White.

Tarzan Cup premium with ad on back cover.

190 Authentic Photographs - a pictorial history of the battles in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the air and on the seas. Arranged and edited by Otto Kurth. Inspired by Laurence Stellings' famous collection of war pictures.

Rare. Same size as American BLB.

Based on the famous newspaper strip featuring the character created by Earl Derr Biggers. Drawn by Alfred Audriola.

Softcover.

By Bud Sagendorf.

5 1/2" x 4 7/8"

By Walter Berndt.

By Norman Marsh.

Pop-Up Book with 3 Pop-Ups. Popeye With The Hag of Seven Seas.

From the Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy radio programs. Retold by Eleanor Packer.

By L. A. Ranch. 3-3/4" x 2-5/8". 32 pgs. stapled.

By Segar.

By Cleve Endicott. A Circle J Western. Illustrated by Henry Muheim.

Written and illustrated by Dougal Lee.

Monogram movie photo edition.

Based on the famous radio series by Fran Striker.

As told by Harold Sherman. Pictured by Henry Vallely.

Softcover. Retold from the story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Illustrated by Juanita Bennett.

By Harold Gray.

By Hal Forrest.

By Eleanor Packer. Movie photo edition. First Gene Autry BLB.

By Thorp McCluskey. Illustrated by Samuel Nisenson.

Illustrated by Henry E. Vallely.

By Thorp McClusky. Illustrated by Joseph R. Kress.

By Chester Gould.

By Phil Nowlan and Lt. Dick Calkins, based on the famous newspaper strip.

428 pages. Based on the famous newspaper strip by Chester Gould.

By Hal Forrest.

By Walt Disney. 5 1/2" x 4 7/8".

Based on the famous newspaper strip by Fred Harman.

By Walter Berndt. 3-1/2 x 3-1/2". 128 pgs., stapled.

By Harold Gray.

Contains forty actual samples of woods in popular use.

Movie photo edition.

By Alex Raymond.

By Don Christensen.

First Mickey Mouse BLB.

By Alex Raymond.

By Pete Daryll.

By Wilton West. Illustrated by Henry E. Vallely.

By Leon Morgan. Illustrated by Hal Arbo.

Based on the famous comic strip. "With Movies of Popeye's Famous Fist In Action!"

By Pete Daryll. Illustrated by James Gary.

By Buck Wilson. Illustrations by Hal Arbo.

By Segar.

By Wilton West. Illustrated by Hal Arbo.

Adapted from the famous newspaper comic series. Drawn by E. C. Segar.

By A. J. Sharick from Universal Pictures with Tom Mix. Movie photo edition.

By Buck Wilson.

Retold from the RKO picture. By Eleanor Packer.

By Walter Lantz. From the famous Motion Picture Cartoon.

By Ward M. Stevens. Illustrated by W. A. Chase.

By George S. Elrick.

By Zane Grey. Based on the famous newspaper strip.

By Will Gould.

Cocomalt ad on back cover.

By Walt Disney. 5 1/2" x 4 7/8".

By Frank King. From the Gasoline Alley strip.

Based on the NEA comic strip by V.T. Hamlin.

By Peter K. Maple.

By R. R. Winterbotham. Illustrated by Erwin L. Darwin.

Adapted from the famous newspaper comic series. Drawn by E. C. Segar.

36 pages, including covers. 6-5/8" wide by 8-3/4" high by 3/8" deep. Black and white pages with 3 full-color pop up pages. Hardcover without a dust jacket. A Blue Ribbon Book. 1933 Walt Disney Enterprises copyright. Stories and Illustrations by the Staff of the Walt Disney Studios.

From the newspaper cartoon by Vic Forsythe. Story by George Gerry.

By Bob Zuppke.

W.C. Fields movie photo edition. Retold by Eleanor Packer and illustrated with scenes from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. Also starring Edna Mae Oliver.

By Harold Gray.

By Gertrude Orr. Softcover. Photo covers and illustrations.

By R. R. Winterbotham. Illustrated by Henry E. Vallely.

Based on the famous comic strip "Gasoline Alley" by Frank King.

By Edward L. Gruskin. Illustrated by Erwin L. Hess. First Roy Rogers BLB.

By R. R. Winterbotham. Illustrated by Erwin L. Hess.

4 volumes, "double-elephant" broadsheets (979/975 x 650/632 mm). Engraved title-page in each volume and 435 hand-colored, etched and aquatint plates, by William H. Lizars (Edinburgh), Robert Havell, Sr. and Robert Havell, Jr. (London), after Audubon's original life-size watercolor drawings, on J. Whatman and J. Whatman Turkey Mill paper with watermarks dated 1827-1838.

First state of the title in volume I, containing 13 lines (before the addition of two extra lines listing Audubon's memberships to learned societies and without volume number). The plates in this set are arranged in order of publication (not by families) and numbered I-X, 11-14, XV, 16-100, CI-CCCCXXXV. Thus, most of the first 100 plates (Vol. I) are early states with Arabic numbering. All of the first ten plates are engraved by William Home Lizars alone, before retouching by R. Havell, Jr.

Two paper stocks were used throughout the production, both bearing the name of the English paper-maker James Whatman. William Balston, the apprentice and successor of the younger James Whatman, shared the rights to the old Whatman company and used the watermark "J Whatman"; the Hollingsworth family had the rights to the watermark "J Whatman Turkey Mill." The sheet size of the paper is known as "double elephant," measuring 39 x 29 inches, approximately the same size of the drawing paper that bears the same name.

Size: 993 x 655 mm (39 1/8 x 25 inches). Full contemporary English crimson morocco, richly gilt, covers paneled a wide decorative roll-tooled outer border surrounding a central panel with a roll-tooled border, a stylized scallop corner-piece built up of smaller tools at each outer corner of central panel, spines in nine compartments with eight double-raised bands, two with onlaid green morocco lettering pieces, the others with a repeated richly gilt panel, board edges and turn-ins elaborately gilt, marbled paper pastedowns and free endpapers, blank flyleaves watermarked "J. Whatman 1838," stamp-signed "J. Mackenzie" on free endpapers of plate volumes (Vol. 3 with a tiny stain on fore-edge, some slight areas of darker discoloration partially due to orientation of the leather hides, some minor surface wear and abrasions skillfully restored and refurbished by James & Stuart Brockman Ltd.); plate volumes in four velvet-lined quarter leather buckram over wooden board folding boxes.

As a subscription publication, The Birds of America was issued over a decade according to demand, and the plates bear a range of imprints, which varies from set to set. We know that Robert senior died in 1832 and that Robert junior then styled himself R. Havell. Fries cites the variants in the names on the first ten plates, which are likely to cause the most confusion as they were the ones engraved by Lizars. They were handed over to the Havells as soon as they had been engaged for the project, and the imprint was amended to reflect this. The earliest states of plate I have "Engraved by W.H. Lizars Edinr.", while later states have "Retouched by R. Havell Junr." Although Havell junior engraved all the plates after number 10, there is no evidence to support a conclusion from the final variants of plates III, IV, V and X, that Havell completely re-engraved the plates, despite the removal of Lizars name from the imprint. Some plates bear no distinction between the senior and junior Havells. Others mention Lizars engraving, but Havell senior printing and coloring (e.g. plate VII), or Robert junior retouching and Robert senior printing and coloring (see Appendix B for imprints on the plates in the present set).


EDITION SIZE AND RARITY

Although the final list of subscribers to The Birds of America totaled 161, a somewhat greater number of sets certainly was produced. Bibliographers of the double-elephant folio have calculated the edition size at approximately 200 completed copies. In her updating of Fries' 1973 census, Susanne Low writes, "119 complete copies are known to exist in the world today. 108 are in institutions such as universities, libraries, museums, athenaeums, societies, and the like. 11 are in private hands."

Since 1973, 24 copies of the book have been sold at auction. Of these, 14 have been sold on a sheet-by-sheet basis, many of these lacking plates, and are dispersed (including the Earl of Carnarvon copy comprising 159 plates only), and another incomplete set which lacked volume IV was sold together but presumably is now dispersed (the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences copy). At the present time, 107 copies remain in institutions and 13 are in private hands (which includes the Fox-Bute copy, previously unaccounted for by Fries and Low).


PROVENANCE

Presumably purchased sometime after 1838 as a bound complete set, by William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland PC, FRS, FSA (24 June 1768 - 27 March 1854), styled Marquess of Titchfield until 1809. He was a British politician who served in various positions in the governments of George Canning and Lord Goderich. Portland was the eldest son of Prime Minister William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland and Lady Dorothy, daughter of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire and Charlotte Boyle, Baroness Clifford. He was the elder brother of Lord William Bentinck and Lord Charles Bentinck. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford.

Each volume in this set contains the armorial bookplate of the 6th Duke of Portland. However, according to the keepers at Welbeck, there seems to be little consistency of the "bookplating" in the library. There are many volumes presently in the library without any bookplate at all, as well as many books acquired by the 4th Duke with no earlier bookplate than the 6th Duke's on their pastedowns. Other books in the library that are known to have been purchased by the 4th Duke show his serious interest in natural history, and therefore may indicate he was the original purchaser of this Audubon set soon after publication in 1838 and prior to his death in 1854. It is possibly, however, that this set may also have been purchased later by the 5th or 6th Dukes of Portland, the son of the 4th Duke and his cousin, respectively.

William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentick, 5th Duke of Portland (1800-1879), styled Lord William Cavendish-Scott-Bentick before 1824 and Marquess of Titchfield between 1824 and 1854, was a British aristocratic eccentric who preferred to live in seclusion. On 27 March 1854 he succeeded his father as 5th Duke of Portland. He had an underground maze excavated under his estate at Welbeck Abbey, near Clumber Park in North Nottinghamshire, where he kept his library.

William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentick, 6th Duke of Portland (1857-1943), known as William Cavendish-Bentick until 1879, was a British landowner, courtier and Conservative politician. He notably served as Master of the Horse between 1886 and 1892 and again between 1895 and 1905. He inherited the Cavendish-Bentick estates, based around Welbeck Abbey, from his cousin William Cavendish-Scott-Bentick, 5th Duke of Portland, in 1879.

By Rita Ritchie.

Pop-Up Book with 3 Pop-Ups. Story and Illustrations by the Staff of Walt Disney Studios.

5 1/2" x 4 7/8"

Movie photo edition starring George O’Brien.

Adapted from the Walt Disney movie.

By Walt Disney.

Based on the famous adventure strip by Zack Mosely.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

By G.A. Alkire. Illustrated by Hal Arbo.

3"x 3-5/8".

3"x 3-5/8".

By Norman Marsh.

By Chester Gould. Based on the famous newspaper strip. Ice Cream Premium. 3-1/2 x 3-1/2". 126 pgs., stapled.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Softcover. Movie photo edition.

By Carl Fallberg.

By James Oliver Curwood. Illustrated by Erwin L. Hess.

Softcover. Movie photo edition starring Jack Hulbert. Illustrations from the photoplay by Guy Bolton. A Gaumont-British Production.

By Carl Fallberg.

By Chester Gould.

Written by Phil Nowlan. Illustrated by Lt. Dick Calkins. Based on the famous newspaper strip.

By William Johnston.

By Don Christensen.

Based on the famous newspaper strip. By Zack Mosley.

By Harold Gray.

Softcover. Ken Maynard movie edition.

By William Johnston.

By Lyman Young.

With Clyde Beatty. With pictures from the Carl Laemmle production "The Big Cage" based on the story "The Big Cage" by Edward Anthony.

Segar art.

Adapted from the famous newspaper cartoon strip.

Double-sized with four pop-ups, 9 3/4" x 7 1/2". Containing "Babes In The Woods" and "King Neptune." Stories and Illustrations by the Staff of Walt Disney Studios.

Original pictorial dust jacket.

Softcover. Movie photo edition.

Illustrated by Walt Disney Studios.

Movie photo edition.

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis. First Mandrake BLB.

By Ad Carter. Based on the famous newspaper comic strip.

By Harold Gray. 3"x 3-5/8".

Written by Phil Nowlan. Drawn by Lt. Dick Calkins.

First edition, first issue (six lines colophon on page [164]). Octavo. [xii], [164] pages. Publisher's burgundy cloth, covers stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt. Mustard endpapers. Original first issue pictorial dust jacket, with no ISBN number on the rear panel and with the price $3.95 on the front flap. 

By Ward M. Stevens. Illustrated by Albert H. Wick.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

By Chester Gould.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

First edition, first printing, with "Published May, 1936" on copyright page and no note of other printings. In first issue dust jacket with Gone with the Wind listed in the second column of Macmillan Spring Novels list on rear panel. Octavo. 1037 pages. Original gray cloth decoratively stamped and lettered in blue on front cover and spine.

By James McNeal. Illustrated by Henry MuHeim.

By Walt Disney. 5 1/2" x 4 7/8".

Softcover version. Standard size.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Softcover.

From the famous Motion Picture Cartoon by Walter Lantz.

By Till Goodan.

The story of a great dog. By James Oliver Curwood. Illustrated by Henry E.Vallely.

By Ray Thompson and Charles Coll.

By Helen Berke. Based on strip by Milton Caniff.

3-1/2 x 3-1/2". 128 pages, stapled.

3"x 3-5/8".

By Paul S. Newman.

Softcover. Movie photo edition.

By Capt. Willfred G. Moore and Lt. Robert M. Burtt. Based on the famous radio series "The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen."

By David L. Harrison. Flipbook format.

Story by Albert B. Dale. Illustrated by Robert Jenney.

Story retold from the motion picture by Eleanor Packer. Movie photo edition.

By Walter Berndt. Based on the famous newspaper strip. Ice Cream Premium. 3-1/2 x 3-1/2". 126 pgs., stapled.

By Eleanor Packer. MGM movie photo edition. With Summaries of the motion pictures, "Tarzan, The Ape Man" and "Tarzan And His Mate." Adapted from the famous stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

3"x 3-5/8".

By Uncle Don Carney. A story based on Uncle Don's famous radio broadcasts, featuring Lanny and Jed Blaine in the exciting adventure with the Mystery Cruiser Q-16.

Softcover variant of #1143. Identical to #1143 except for softcover and no number.

By Stanley Link.

First Tailspin Tommy BLB.

By Gaylord Du Bois. Illustrated by Robert L. Jenney.

Softcover. Segar art.

Softcover. Segar art.

Adapted from the famous newspaper comic series. Drawn by E. C. Segar. Softcover.

Softcover.

.

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis.

By Paul S. Newman.

Softcover version.

Story by Phil Nowlan. Pictures by Lt. Dick Calkins. Based on the famous newspaper strip.

By Hal Forrest.

By Conrad Vane. Illustrated by A. McWilliams.

Softcover. Movie photo edition.

By Harold Gray. Reprints Whitman #1414.

Movie photo edition.

By Jack Wallen.

Based on the radio series "The Hawk's Trail." Illustrated by Irwin Myers.

By Steve Saxton. Illustrated by Herbert Anderson.

By Harold Gray.

By George S. Elrick.

By Milton Caniff.

Based on the famous newspaper strip by Russell Stamm.

By Rex Loomis. Illustrated by William Mark Young.

Hardcover.

Based on the famous newspaper strips by Alex Raymond.

By Frank Willard.

By R. R. Winterbotham. Illustrated by Erwin L. Hess.

By Alice Andersen.

By Glen Cravath.

By Allen Saunders and Elmer Waggon. Based on the famous comic strip.

By J. Carrol Mansfield.

Created by Fran Striker. Based on the radio series. Story by BuckWilson. Illustrated by Herbert Anderson.

By Carl Fallberg.

By Ad Carter. Softcover.

Based on the famous newspaper strip by Alex Raymond.

By Alex Raymond. Based on the famous newspaper strip.

By Dougal Lee.

By Alex Raymond. Based on the famous adventure strip.

Story and screenplay by Paul Perez, S.W.G.. Movie photo edition.

By Zane Grey.

Based on the famous radio series. By R. R. Winterbotham. Illustrated by Erwin L. Hess.

By Sidney Smith.

By Walt Disney.

By George S. Elrick. Color cartoons and text.

By Walt Disney.

By Lieut.-Comdr. Frank V. Martinek, U.S.N.R.. First Don Winslow BLB.

By Harold Gray.

By Hal Forrest.

By Oren Arnold. Illustrated by Herbert Anderson. An Adventure Story of the Mexican Frontier.

Based on the famous newspaper strip "Wash Tubbs" by Roy Crane.

By Lt. Dick Calkins and Phil Nowlan. First Buck Rogers Big Little Book.

By Chester Gould. Hardcover, 4" x 5-1/4".

By Morrel Massey.

Vintage 1939 SUCH A LIFE! SAYS: DONALD DUCK from the Better Little Book Series. Hardcover. Size: 3 1/2" x 4-1/2" x 1-1/4"; 425 pages; (c) 1939 Walt Disney Productions.

By Walt Disney. "Flip movie" format.

As told to Maxwell Grant. Illustrated by Erwin L. Hess.

By Mark Smith. Illustrated by Frank J. Hoban.

Softcover version.

An original story by Art Elder. Illustrated by J. R. White.

8-1/4" x 3-3/4"

Based on the motion picture "Wild Horse Stampede." A Columbia Picture. Fictionalized by George Gerry. Movie photo edition.

By Peter Dixon. Based upon the radio serial of the same title.

Favorite Jokes of the Stars. Illustrated with scenes from famous photoplays.

By Alex Raymond. Softcover version.

By Lt. Dick Calkins and Phil Nowlan. Cocomalt ad on back cover.

By Alex Raymond.

By Mark Millis. Illustrated by Ralph C. Hitchcock.

Softcover. By Leonard K. Smith. Illustrated by Louis G. Schroeder.

Based on the famous newspaper strip by Fred Harman.

By Lloyd E. Smith. Illustrated by B. McNaughton.

By Gaylord DuBois. Illustrated by Robert R. Weisman.

By Walter Lantz. First Andy Panda BLB.

By Fran Striker. Illustrated by Robert R. Weisman. Based on the famous radio series.

Adapted from the famous newspaper cartoon strip by Dick Moores.

Softcover. Movie photo edition starring Grace Moore.

By Norman Marsh. Pan-Am Gasoline ad on back cover. 3-3/4" x 3-1/2".

From the famous newspaper strip by Russell Stamm.

By Harry Lawson. 3-3/4" x 2-5/8". 32 pgs. stapled.

By Mark Smith.