The Wind In The Willows

Children’s Leather Bound Classics

Hardcover

1st

First Person

Fiction

251

27

2018-06-26 17:30:45

Absolutely—this is a fascinating artifact. Let’s break it down step by step:

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📘 Overview of The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, published in 1908, is a cornerstone of children’s literature. It blends pastoral storytelling with anthropomorphic characters—Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger—exploring themes of friendship, adventure, and nostalgia for a vanishing countryside.

Historical Importance

• 🌿 Literary Legacy: Revered for its lyrical prose and vivid characterizations, it influenced authors like A.A. Milne (who later dramatized it) and C.S. Lewis.
• 🏛️ Cultural Impact: The book helped shape the Edwardian ideal of rural England and remains a staple in British and American children’s literature.
• 🎭 Adaptations: It has inspired countless stage, film, and television adaptations, reinforcing its place in popular culture.


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📚 Edition Identification

Based on the images you provided:

• Publisher: Charles Scribner’s Sons
• Copyright Date: 1908
• Publication Date: October 1908
• Title Page & Binding: Matches known characteristics of the true first American edition


First Edition Status

✅ Yes, this appears to be a first American edition, published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in October 1908. The true first edition was published in the UK by Methuen & Co. in June 1908, but this Scribner edition is the first U.S. printing and is highly collectible in its own right.

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💰 Valuation

Valuation depends on several factors: condition, completeness, provenance, and market demand.

Key Considerations

• Condition: Your copy shows wear and fading to the cloth binding, which affects value. Interior pages appear clean and intact.
• Completeness: If all pages are present and there are no major defects (e.g., missing illustrations, loose binding), that supports higher value.
• Provenance: Any inscriptions, ownership marks, or association with notable figures could increase value.


Estimated Market Value

Condition Grade Estimated Value (USD)
Fine $1,500–$2,500
Very Good $800–$1,200
Good $400–$700
Fair/Poor $150–$300


Your copy, based on visible wear, likely falls in the Good to Very Good range, pending interior inspection.

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I can help you draft a catalog entry or provenance note for this copy to support appraisal or archival documentation.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, Scribners, 1908, first edition, spine a bit lightened, else a tight, bright vg+/near fine copy of this classic and most desirable work. (A comparable British edition is offered at nearly 10 times this amount !!!) Per the publisher’s archives at Princeton University, Scribner’s initially printed 4,700 copies of the book. It was released on October 4th, 1908, making it the true ”first” (preceding publication of the first English edition by 4 days).

Here’s a summary and value estimate for the book ”The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame:
Book Summary:
The images show a copy of ”The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame.
* Author: Kenneth Grahame
* Title: The Wind in the Willows
* Publisher: Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York
* Copyright and Publication Year: 1908. The copyright page explicitly states ”Published October, 1908.”
* Binding: The book has a green cloth binding with gilt lettering on the front cover.
Value Estimate:
This is a significant book, as ”The Wind in the Willows” is a beloved classic of children’s literature. The key factor here is whether this is a first American edition.
* First American Edition: The publication information (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1908, with ”Published October, 1908” on the copyright page) confirms this is indeed the first American edition of the book. The true first edition was published in London by Methuen & Co. in 1908, but the American first edition is also highly collectible.
* Condition: This is the most crucial factor for valuation.
* The images show noticeable wear to the green cloth binding, particularly along the edges and corners, and some fading/discoloration. This indicates a ”good” to ”fair” condition, rather than ”very good” or ”fine.”
* There is no dust jacket visible. The absence of the original dust jacket significantly decreases the value, as first editions in their original jackets are much more sought after and rare.
* Rarity/Demand: Despite the condition, the first American edition of ”The Wind in the Willows” is still a collectible item due to its literary importance.
Estimated Value Range:
Considering this is a first American edition of ”The Wind in the Willows” but appears to be in fair to good condition, and crucially, without its original dust jacket:
* You can expect an estimated value range of approximately $300 to $1,000.
* Copies in better condition (less wear to binding, cleaner appearance) without a dust jacket would be towards the higher end of this range.
* Copies with significant wear, as this one appears to have, would likely fall into the lower to mid-range.
For context and comparison:
* A true first British edition (Methuen, 1908) in good condition without a dust jacket could be in the range of $1,000 - $5,000+.
* A first British or American edition with a very good original dust jacket would command significantly higher prices, often in the tens of thousands of dollars.
To get a more precise valuation:
* Examine the Interior: Check the condition of the pages for foxing, inscriptions, tears, or any missing pages. The integrity of the binding internally is also important.
* Consult a Rare Book Specialist: For an item of this historical significance, a professional appraisal from a reputable rare book dealer would provide the most accurate assessment of its specific condition and market value.
* Research Completed Sales: Look for recent completed sales of ”The Wind in the Willows, First American Edition, 1908” on sites like AbeBooks, Biblio, or major auction house archives, paying close attention to the condition and whether a dust jacket was present.

Charles Scribners & Sons

9780006920960

United Kingdom

London

1983

1

English

London

~$0.28

2025-10-01

2018-06-26 17:30:45