The Call Of The Wild

Adventure

Hardcover

Third Person

Fiction

128

7

2018-06-26 17:44:08

1903 second printing. A dog named Buck who is kidnapped and sold both into slavery with the purpose of being sold into the sled dog trade. Buck left a life of ease in California to a life of privation and hardship in the brutal and unforgiving Alaskan winter. He learned to obey his masters quickly after the brutal behaviorism taught by Perrault, the man with the club. He learned that brutality was necessary for survival. Buck survived many scrapes with death. He best the odds when he was rescued from the ownership of some incompetent fortune seekers by John Thornton who treated Buck with civility and kindness. Buck feels an impulse to seek the companionship with wild dogs and strayed from the camp for long stretches of time. Buck returned to find that John and his companions were killed in an Indian attack. Buck is able to exact some revenge and he gained the reputation as the ”Ghost Dog.”

Based on the images provided, here is an overview of the book, its historical context, edition, and potential value.
Book Overview
The book is ”The Call of the Wild” by Jack London. It was published by The Macmillan Company in New York in 1903. The copyright page states that it was ”set up, electrotyped, and published July, 1903” and also ”Reprinted July; August, 1903.” The book is illustrated by Philip R. Goodwin and Charles Livingston Bull and decorated by Chas. Edw. Hooper. The cover is a pictorial binding with a detailed, multi-colored scene depicting a man and a dog sled team.
Historical Importance
”The Call of the Wild” is one of the most famous and widely read American novels ever written. It is considered a literary classic and a foundational work of American literature. The novel is historically important for several reasons:
* Literary Significance: It’s a key example of American naturalism, exploring themes of survival, atavism, and the conflict between nature and civilization.
* Cultural Impact: The story’s rugged, frontier spirit and its depiction of the Klondike Gold Rush had a profound impact on American culture and its self-image.
* Jack London’s Legacy: The book solidified Jack London’s reputation as a major literary figure and remains his most famous work.
A first edition of this book is a significant historical artifact, representing the original publication of a canonical work of American literature.
Is It a First Edition?
This is a later printing of the first edition.
* The title page and copyright page both confirm the 1903 publication date and The Macmillan Company as the publisher, which is correct for the first edition.
* However, the copyright page explicitly states, ”Reprinted July; August, 1903.”
The first printing of this book was published in July 1903. Any copy with ”Reprinted July” or ”Reprinted August” on the copyright page is a later printing from the same year. This is a common occurrence with popular books from this era that sold out their initial print run very quickly. While still a valuable early edition, it is not the very first printing. The first printing would not have the ”reprinted” line on the copyright page. The true first printing is also generally considered to have a dark blue or dark gray cover, whereas this cover appears more green.
What Is Its Value?
The value of this book is determined by its status as a highly desirable early edition of a classic work, offset by its condition and its status as a later printing.
* Condition: The images show significant wear on the cover. The pictorial binding is faded and has a noticeable scuff or mark across the front. The spine shows wear and fraying at the top and bottom. The pages appear to be toned. A copy in fine condition would be much more valuable.
* Edition: A true first printing (July 1903, without the reprint notice) is worth significantly more than a subsequent printing from the same year.
* Demand: There is very high and consistent demand for first editions and early printings of ”The Call of the Wild” among book collectors.
Estimated Value:
A true first printing of ”The Call of the Wild” in good condition can be valued at a few thousand dollars or more. However, because this is a later printing from the same year and shows significant wear, its value is lower. Given these factors, a fair estimate for this copy would be in the range of $150 to $500 USD.

Based on the images you provided, here is an overview of the book, its historical importance, edition, and value.
Book Overview
This is a copy of ”The Call of the Wild” by Jack London. The novel, first published in 1903, is an adventure story set during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. It follows the journey of a large, domesticated dog named Buck, who is stolen from his comfortable life on a California estate and sold into the harsh life of a sled dog in the Alaskan wilderness. As Buck endures brutal treatment and the savage law of ”club and fang,” he sheds the comforts of civilization and taps into his primal, wolf-like instincts to survive and ultimately answer the ”call of the wild.”
Historical Importance
”The Call of the Wild” is considered a masterpiece of American literature and is one of Jack London’s most famous works. Its historical and literary importance includes:
* Immediate Bestseller: The book was an instant success upon its publication, launching Jack London to international fame.
* American Naturalism: It is a classic example of the American literary movement of Naturalism, which explored themes of survival, determinism, and the idea that heredity and environment—rather than free will—shape a character’s destiny.
* Enduring Classic: The novel has never been out of print since 1903 and remains a staple in schools, celebrated for its raw, powerful narrative and its complex exploration of the line between civilization and savagery.
Edition Identification
This is not a first edition, first printing.
While it is an early and desirable copy from the year of publication (1903) by the original publisher (The Macmillan Company), the copyright page (your second image) clearly indicates it is a reprint.
* A true first edition, first printing would only state: ”Set up, electrotyped, and published July, 1903.”
* Your copy states: ”Set up, electrotyped, and published July, 1903. Reprinted July; August, 1903.”
This line indicates your book is the third printing, which was issued in August 1903, just a month after the book’s initial release, due to its immense popularity. The cover, with its distinctive green cloth and pictorial design, is the same one used for the first printing.
Estimated Value
Determining a book’s value depends heavily on its condition and the presence of the original dust jacket (which this copy appears to be missing).
* A true first edition, first printing, in very good condition with its rare original dust jacket can be worth well over $10,000 to $20,000.
* A first printing without the dust jacket is typically valued in the $1,000 to $2,500 range, depending on condition.
For your copy—an August 1903 third printing in what appears to be fair to good condition (showing wear on the spine and corners)—a realistic market value would be in the range of $100 to $300. Some dealers might ask for more, but auction and sale records for this specific printing in similar condition typically fall within this range.

The MacMillian Company

9780689818363

1

~$16.32

2024-02-04

2018-06-26 17:44:08