Rivers of America

I do like a good series. 

Shetland, Longmire, the WPA Guides to the States, and Rivers of America.

Started in 1937 with the publication of Kennebec: Cradle of Americans by Robert P. Tristram Coffin and illustrated by Andrew Wyeth (Yay, Maine!) the series continued for 37 years and 65 volumes ending in 1974 with the publication of The American: River of El Dorado by Margaret Sanborn.

Written by popular writers, not historians, and often illustrated by regional artists -- some famous and some not so much -- it was a big hit. If you live near a major river, it's likely it has its own book in this series.

Quite a feat. 

Burt, Powder River (1938)

I've handled a number of copies over the years and on a house visit earlier this week spotted a number of volumes on a very high shelf.  Some had dust jackets, some didn't -- here are the highlights.

As always, the next time you're in the area make it a point to visit Craig Olson Books at 99 Main Street in Belfast, Maine, where we have a large selection of books in all subjects, and a few hundred on architecture, art, and design.

~Craig

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Beston, Henry; Jackson, A. Y. (Artist). The St. Lawrence (Rivers of America Series). New York: Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1942. Hardcover. First Edition. First Printing. xi, 274 pp. 8vo. Light wear and rubbing to dust jacket, small chips at edges, a whisper of sunning to spine, now in mylar cover. Blue cloth boards with gold and brown embossed titling to spine. Illustrated endpapers. Dark strip running horizontal from a long ago laid in bookmark, previous owner's name in pencil on half-title page. Clean within. [Fitzgerald S24]. (#31413) Price: $65.00

Burt, Struthers; Santee, Ross (Artist). Powder River: Let 'er Buck (Rivers of America Series). New York: Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1938. Hardcover. First Edition. First Printing. xi, 389 pp. 8vo. Light wear and rubbing to dust jacket, small chips at edges, sunning and minor water staining to spine, now in mylar cover. Red cloth boards with gold and black embossed titling to spine. Slight darkening to endpapers as well as a gift inscription on the first free endpaper. Clean within. [Fitzgerald P6]. (#31414) Price: $100.00

Cabell, Branch; Hanna, A. J.; Lee, Doris (Artist). The St. Johns: A Parade of Diversities (Rivers of America Series). New York: Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1943. Hardcover. First Edition. Second Printing. 324 pp. 8vo. Wear and chipping to dust jacket, losses to upper left corner of front panel, upper right corner, slight darkening and soiling, now in mylar cover. Clean within. (#30196) Price: $45.00

Morgan, Dale L.; Blanch, Arnold (Artist). The Humboldt: Highroad of the West (Rivers of America Series). New York: Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., 1943. Hardcover. First Edition. First Printing. x, 374 pp. 8vo. Light wear and rubbing to dust jacket, small chips at edges, small triangular piece missing at foot of spine, now in mylar cover. Gray cloth boards with gold and brown embossed titling to spine. Illustrated endpapers, with small tear 1/3 way down from top of spine along front gutter, clean within. [Fitzgerald H26]. (#31412) Price: $60.00