Kennebec: Cradle of Americans
New York: Farrar & Rinehart, 1937. 1st Edition. 8vo. Very Good / Good+. Item #13242
1st Edition of this important 'Rivers of America' work, the first published in the 64-volume series.
"Constance Lindsay Skinner initially conceived the series and was also the first series editor.
"She wrote an essay that was included in early volumes of the series in which she describes it as follows:
"This is to be a literary and not a historical series. The authors of these books will be novelists and poets. On them, now in America, as in all lands and times, rests the real responsibility of interpretation. If the average American is less informed about his country than any other national, knows and cares less about its past and about its present in all sections but the one where he resides, it is because books prepared for his instruction were not written by artists."
"Skinner's unique vision extended to twenty-four volumes, but the series proved so popular that sixty-five volumes were eventually published over a 37-year period."
Orange cloth with blocked gilt titling to the spine. Cloth somewhat age-toned around edges. Square tight binding, though there is a minor reinforcement repair to the front inner hinge. Clean Interior. Mild foxing to text block fore edge.
Dust jacket with light soiling and moderate edge wear, including a small chip to top of spine and a few creases and short closed tears, tape repaired on verso. Jacket presents handsomely in archival mylar.
Overall a handsome and desirable edition of the first Rivers of America entry.
Price: $75.00