That Printer of Udell's (First Edition) Ronald Reagan

Harold Bell Wright

Published by The Book Supply Co., 1903

Collectible first edition, first printing of Harold Bell Wright's That Printer of Udell's "1903" stated at bottom of title page and "1902 and 1903" stated on copyright page. Note that title page date (1902) indicates date of copyright establishment and copyright page date (1903) the actual date of issue. Bound in dark green cloth with mounted lozenge-shaped photo of printer to center of front panel, white lettering and bordering to front panel and gilt lettering to spine panel. Later printings shifted the position of the photo to the left side, cropped to a rectangle, and were bound in several different cloth colors. Includes John Clitheroe Gilbert duotone frontis illustration (matching front panel photo) and eight additional half-tone illustrations by John Clitheroe Gilbert bound in. Later printings lacked most or all original illustrations. Glassine interleaf tipped-in between frontis and title page. Collated and complete as issued. Note: A copy was given by his mother to Ronald Reagan when he was 11, and Reagan later cited it as his most influential childhood book, inspiring his later rise to President. From BookThink: "Some history: At age 11 Ronald Reagan's mother gave him a book to read that greatly influenced him, both early on and throughout his life. The reasons were several. First, Reagan found in protagonist Dick Falkner, a role model he could closely identify with. Reagan's mother Nelle was a devout Christian (specifically Disciples of Christ) who lived her life according to its teachings and strongly influenced her son's spirituality - and she was married to an alcoholic, just as Dick's father had been, with all its darker elements. After reading the book, he consented to be baptized. To be fair, Reagan's father Jack worked hard to support the family, yet seemed to move through his years with a kind of aimlessness - just like Dick Falkner's father, in whom he saw how a life without much purpose could change if a purpose was finally found. Reagan's youth wasn't quite as troubled as Dick's - Dick lost both parents in his teens, for one thing - but Reagan's was checkered. And, of course, for many years immersed in Hollywood culture. He wasn't a bad boy, that is, but had his moments. Interestingly, Reagan published a letter in his 1984 memoirs in which he expressed his gratitude for Falkner, and the book, That Printer of Udell's, that left him "with an abiding belief in the triumph of good over evil" that he would always take heart in - and this book was mentioned after being asked what his favorite childhood books were, none of which resembled anything more than unusual than typical children's books. As an adult, Reagan never wore conventional church teachings on his sleeve but simply tried to keep the question "What would Jesus do?" in front of him and tried to act accordingly. This dovetailed with the Social Gospel Movement in the latter part of the 19th century, which gave this same emphasis - try to do what Jesus would have done rather than what the church told you to do. That Printer of Udell's was a significant force in this movement and also edgy in its own way, given the somewhat irreverent approach Dick Falkner met with life. Isn't this the sort of thing a boy might be interested in reading? It was also popular in its own right, published and reprinted more than once, also after first being drafted and redrafted and published in much shorter form multiple times in a small church publication before surfacing in its first book form." Pagination numbered 15-467 with end page unnumbered. Tight, bright copy with 1903 inscription to front free endpaper. Minimal bumping to extremities. Odor free. Internals lightly age toned. An exceptionally presentable copy of a somewhat scarce (and true) first edition. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly. Seller Inventory # 377665

Bibliographic Details

Title: That Printer of Udell's (First Edition) ...
Publisher: The Book Supply Co.
Publication Date: 1903
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Edition: First Edition.