About this Item
- Edition/Printing: First Edition, First Printing, as indicated by the 1949 copyright and lack of later printing statements. Volume 40 in the "Rivers of America" series.
- Binding style and materials: Bound in sturdy cream linen cloth boards with a purple title block on the spine featuring gilt lettering. The front board is blind-embossed with the series "R of A" logo. Complete with its original pictorial dust jacket.
- Notable features: This volume is a distinguished entry in the highly collectible "Rivers of America" series, known for its focus on American waterways and regional history.
Illustrations, maps, plates, engravings, foldouts, or decorative elements: Profusely illustrated throughout with striking woodcut-style illustrations by Mitchell Jamieson, depicting various scenes and aspects of the Potomac River region. Includes detailed two-page and single-page maps tracing the river's course and historical points of interest.
- Historical or collectible significance: "The Potomac" offers a rich historical narrative of the river that flows through the heart of American history, from colonial times through the 20th century. As part of the "Rivers of America" series, it contributes to a comprehensive historical and geographical record of the United States.
Historical & Collectible Context:
The "Rivers of America" series is a landmark publishing endeavor initiated in 1937, conceived by Constance Lindsay Skinner and later edited by Stephen Vincent Benét, Carl Carmer, and Hervey Allen. Each volume, written by a different author and typically illustrated by a different artist, explores the history, culture, folklore, and natural beauty of a specific American river. The series is celebrated for its literary quality, diverse artistic interpretations, and its invaluable contribution to regional American history and geography. Collectors seek out these volumes for their historical content, their distinctive illustrations, and as a complete set. "The Potomac" stands as a significant contribution, documenting a river central to the nation's capital and its foundational history.
Condition:
Exterior - Dust jacket spine shows significant chipping and loss at the top and bottom, with rubbing and creases across the surface. The book's cloth spine is strong, with bright gilt lettering on the purple title block, showing some minor rubbing. Dust jacket exhibits rubbing, edgewear, and small tears along all edges. The front panel has general surface wear and some discoloration. The book's cream cloth boards are clean, with sharp corners and the embossed "R of A" logo prominently displayed on the front. Dust jacket edges are heavily chipped and worn. Book edges are clean with minimal shelf wear. Gilt lettering on the book's spine remains bright. The hinges are strong, and the binding is tight. Present. The dust jacket is in Fair condition, exhibiting significant chipping, tears, rubbing, and discoloration, especially along the spine and edges. The original price of $4.00 is present on the front flap.
Interior - Pages are clean, crisp, and robust, printed on quality paper. There is no foxing. Minor, age-appropriate toning to the page edges. There is no writing or inscriptions. There are no tears, stains, creases, or repairs.
Seller Inventory # 800450405315
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