Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation
Chicago: Reilly & Britton Co., 1912. First printing. Hardcover. First state, with seven titles listed on verso of half-title page. 305 pages plus 8 pages of publisher's ads in rear. Frontispiece by Emile Nelson. Hardcover, very good condition, in a good jacket. Book is straight and quite fresh, with some dust soiling to page edges and mild overall rubbing. Jacket also has uniform dust soiling, its spine panel is deeply tanned with a quarter-inch loss across the top edge, and its front spine fold is reinforced with archival tape on the verso, invisible from the front. Item #903
The seventh title in the series. The nieces, at their uncle's vacation home in upstate New York, use his money to establish a newspaper, then run into a variety of difficulties with employees, readers and coverage of local events. A particularly interesting story in light of Baum's substantial newspaper career. Bound in tan cloth, lettered in green, and stamped in green and purple floral decorations surrounding a multicolored oval inlay of the three nieces, who are standing next to a type case and examining a freshly printed sheet. Cover is signed with the interlocking DD of the Decorative Designers firm. Jacket replicates the cover design, but without the purple in the decorations. Jacket's front flap has a 240-word plot synopsis, rear flap advertises the two Van Dyne/Baum "Flying Girls" titles, and rear panel lists seven Aunt Jane's Nieces titles, with a drawing of the nieces and a general sales pitch: "Distinctly girls' books and yet stories that will appeal to brother as well--and to older folk. Real and vital--rousing stories of the experiences and exploits of three real girls who do things. Without being sensational, Mrs. Van Dyne has succeeded in writing a series of stories that have the tug and stir of fresh young blood in them. Each story is complete in itself. Illustrated 12mo. Uniform Cloth Binding, Stamped in Colors, with Beautiful Colored Inlay. Fancy Colored Jackets. PRICE 60 CTS." Jacket enclosed in a clear, archival-quality, removable protective cover.
Price: $750.00