About this Item
Mary Roberts Rinehart's Bab: A Sub-Deb is a romance novel with five thematic chapters about an effervescent young teenage beauty, the prototype for the flapper. The book served as the basis for three silent films produced in 1917, directed by J. Searle Dawley, each featuring Marguerite Clark as Bab. From 1910 to 1940, Rinehart was America's most successful popular writer, with eleven of her novels among the 10 top bestsellers of the year they were published. While Rinehart is best known for her mystery novels, this humorous work written in diary form showcases her versatility. First editions in jacket are rare. This copy lacks the dust jacket but represents an accessible example of Rinehart's popular 1917 first edition.
First edition, first printing, published by George H. Doran Company, New York, 1917. Illustrated throughout by May Wilson Preston. Bound in tan cloth boards with black lettering and design on front cover and spine. The binding shows honest wear consistent with age: corners bumped and worn, spine has separated from the text block though all pages remain firmly attached and secure. Previous owner's name inscribed inside front cover. Minor bookseller's marks present. No dust jacket, as issued by this publisher alongside jacketed copies. Pages are clean, tight, and bright with no foxing or significant toning?a better than average reading copy that remains structurally sound despite the spine separation. The illustrations are intact and in good condition. This copy would benefit a reader or collector seeking an affordable example of this culturally significant early 20th-century title.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OUR APPROACH TO DESCRIBING BOOKS
At Equipment for Living, we understand that book collectors tend to be serious, detailed individuals. So we aspire, as much as possible, to document the various imperfections present in each volume we offer. We also do our best to provide extensive photographs that show what we're seeking to describe.
We take this approach not to discourage you, but to inform you. Our descriptions are deliberately conservative?we'd rather you be pleasantly surprised when your book arrives than disappointed. Every item we list has been selected because we believe it offers genuine significance and value to collectors, researchers, and book lovers of all kinds. We don't list everything that crosses our path; we list what we believe is worth your attention.
That said, we approach this work with humility. The world of rare and antiquarian books is full of variations, historical idiosyncrasies, and details that can elude even careful research. We study every book we sell, but we undoubtedly miss important particulars from time to time. If you possess more specific or accurate information about a volume we've listed, we genuinely want to hear from you. We're always learning.
While we've been selling books online since 2008, we have only recently begun focusing more deliberately on rare, collectible, and antiquarian books. We do not yet hold membership in professional organizations like the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America or the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers?but we are actively working toward that goal. We're building the track record, developing the expertise, and cultivating the relationships that such distinction requires. In the meantime, we hold ourselves to the standards these organizations represent: honest descriptions, fair dealing, and a genuine commitment to serving collectors well.
We're here to help you make the most informed decision possible. So, if you have questions, want additional photographs, or would like to hop on a video call so we can walk you through a book's unique features in real time, just ask. We love this work because we love books?and we love connecting them with the people who will appreciate them most.
Seller Inventory # ANTQ.18
Contact seller
Report this item
