Page 47 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles December 2019
P. 47
Donald Duck and the A-Bomb
H ere are some emails back and forth from Jill B. to me about books. I have Re: Donald Duck’s Atom Bomb
edited them somewhat to make them appear more conversational.
Jill: Do you do appraisals? I have a box of very old books. I am doing research on them Jill: “They” say this is rare because of the Atom Bomb theme. I know they are from
Cheerio boxes. I’ve seen insane prices for it, and only found 2 that were even for sale.
for my parents. I came across two that seem kind of rare and am not sure who to contact All these, and I have more are copyright 1947.
for verification. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Jim: Interesting and very unusual. Has potential, but it’s probably not strictly a
Jim: I don’t do appraisals for tax or estate purposes, but tell me what you have and book. Probably is very rare because of the A-Bomb. I’ve never seen or heard of it
I might be able to help. before. I suspect that it does have some value. Interesting that in the world of books,
that age isn’t everything. Here you have something printed in 1947, one of the
Jill: My parents are still alive (88 and 85), and we’ve all just been curious about what newest items that you have and it turns out to be far more interesting than the older
they had in that box. So I took them and started looking around websites that have them books that you have! But that happens in the (sometimes) weird world of books. But
for sale and have had some kind of appraisal. I kind of dismiss eBay, unless someone has this is more of a comic book item than a book, so I have no idea as to value.
had it verified. What I’m doing is just getting an average of what each book is. Donald Duck and the A-bomb. Who would have thunk it! That is truly weird.
There are a few that I’m stumped on … I can’t find any information (no copyright But at least it was Donald Duck who had some sense, and not Daffy Duck. Daffy
date on one and the publisher site isn’t showing it anywhere). I can send you pictures Duck was CRAZY. Wouldn’t want his feathers anywhere near the button!
of the ones in question (I believe it’s only 3 or 4 books) and I’d be glad to reimburse
you for any time you put in to help me. If you have any books or website suggestions to Re: Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes McLoughlin Bros, Inc. - no copyright
use as a resource, I’m open to that as well.
Thank you for responding! Jim: This was published by McLoughlin Brothers who specialized in children’s
books from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Their early books often contained
Jim: Yes, you can send me photos of the title and copyright pages. Normally, a book beautiful chromolithographs. There are
with no copyright date means that it was a much later reprint done after older versions than this one by the same
the copyright had expired and so not worth publisher, but this one is an inexpensive
much, but not always. edition without the nice color illustrations.
eBay is pretty much worthless unless you This is possibly a 1920s-50s reprint.
check completed auctions for items that Maybe $10-$20. People are sometimes
actually sold, otherwise it’s filled up with unre- interested in these because they were the
alistic asking prices. Unfortunately the same is editions that they grew up with, so even
true of many book prices online. I use book- though it’s not nearly as nice as the older
finder.com which gets prices from several sites, ones, still it might interest someone if this
but even then most of the prices are someone’s was the edition that they grew up with.
unrealistic asking prices – $50 books someone is But of course, you have to find that
trying to get $500 for, etc. Best to keep scrolling “right” person.
down to the lower, probably more realistic
prices. The Internet goes each way sometimes – Jill: I suppose also, that people in my parents’ generation
too expensive or too cheap. kept a lot of things for years on end. That’s just the way they were. Don’t throw it out,
you may need it. The original recyclers! I have my own collection of old books … over the
Re: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Samuel Clemens (can’t find one w/this cover) years I’ve picked up many. Topic didn’t matter too much. It’s always interesting to read
something completely different. I love the feel, the smell, the look of an old book. At least
Jim: Huck Finn originally came out in 1884. This is probably a 1950s inexpensive I wouldn’t seem like a weirdo to you, you get it! HAHAHA … They are unedited versions
reprint. The cover design doesn’t matter as its not a collectible book. Maybe $5 or so. too. Some people would run around with their hair on fire reading some of these rhymes
Jill: The copyright is 1942. I understand now what you are looking at. If it’s not an because they aren’t politically correct! HA! … I think I was more surprised to find how
original 1880’s then it’s just another book. many copies of things that were out there of the same types of books I have.
Jim: Despite the impressions I probably gave in my emails to you, I do love old
Jim: Well, yes, but of course there are exceptions. One edition of Huck Finn of books and we are not the only ones. And even the most ordinary copy that is
this period had illustrations by Norman Rockwell, which are interesting but not worth very little can have very special meaning to someone. Sometimes
especially valuable; but generally yes, Huck Finn was so popular there are loads of “improved” isn’t better.
copies around and not especially collectible. Plus looking at the size, I suspect it
might have been abridged for younger readers. Might have had a dust jacket, too. Jill: I can understand why people want the original version for reasons you pointed out.
Re: Friendship’s Offering, 1905 Jim: I do have a call for the older Grimm fairy tales and Hardy Boys and Nancy
Drew titles because the new ones have been modernized and “improved.” Interesting
Jill: This was my Dad’s Mom’s book. She was born in 1905. I imagine that book was that originally the Grimm’s fairy tales were not just pretty stories to entertain
from around that decade. No copyright. It’s a small book, around 3”x5”. Condition is children, but object lessons for children not to do stupid stuff because they might
rough! I just didn’t know what time period it was from. Her name is scrawled inside the come to a bad end – you know, don’t wander alone in the woods alone little girl, or
book, like a middle-schooler would write, so I had no idea what time period it was from. a wolf might get you. In fact, I read recently where the big bad wolf was actually a
personification of bad men who attacked lone women in the woods. Could be.
Jim: This book obviously has great sentimental value to you because it belonged
to your grandmother, but, alas, to put it bluntly, that wouldn’t mean much of Jill: The information you gave me helps me understand what to look for. I can’t tell
anything to anyone else unless grandmother was a famous celebrity. you how much I appreciate you taking time to answer some of my questions. Next time
we’re up that way, we’ll stop in and I can thank you in person! Many thanks!
Re: Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible
Jim: I see these around. not too exciting. Maybe $10-$15. James Dawson has owned and operated the Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe, MD since 1975,
when he decided that it would be more fun to buy and sell old books and maps than to get a
“real” job; having a shop just might be another excuse to buy more books. He has about
Jill: Hahaha, not too exciting … that’s funny but true. I think I was more surprised to 30,000 second hand and rare books on the shelves, and just about all subjects are represented.
find how many copies of things that were out there of the same types of books. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 154; Trappe, MD. 21673, 410-476-3838;
e-mail: unicornbookshopMD@gmail.com; website: unicornbookshop.com.
December 2019 45
H ere are some emails back and forth from Jill B. to me about books. I have Re: Donald Duck’s Atom Bomb
edited them somewhat to make them appear more conversational.
Jill: Do you do appraisals? I have a box of very old books. I am doing research on them Jill: “They” say this is rare because of the Atom Bomb theme. I know they are from
Cheerio boxes. I’ve seen insane prices for it, and only found 2 that were even for sale.
for my parents. I came across two that seem kind of rare and am not sure who to contact All these, and I have more are copyright 1947.
for verification. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Jim: Interesting and very unusual. Has potential, but it’s probably not strictly a
Jim: I don’t do appraisals for tax or estate purposes, but tell me what you have and book. Probably is very rare because of the A-Bomb. I’ve never seen or heard of it
I might be able to help. before. I suspect that it does have some value. Interesting that in the world of books,
that age isn’t everything. Here you have something printed in 1947, one of the
Jill: My parents are still alive (88 and 85), and we’ve all just been curious about what newest items that you have and it turns out to be far more interesting than the older
they had in that box. So I took them and started looking around websites that have them books that you have! But that happens in the (sometimes) weird world of books. But
for sale and have had some kind of appraisal. I kind of dismiss eBay, unless someone has this is more of a comic book item than a book, so I have no idea as to value.
had it verified. What I’m doing is just getting an average of what each book is. Donald Duck and the A-bomb. Who would have thunk it! That is truly weird.
There are a few that I’m stumped on … I can’t find any information (no copyright But at least it was Donald Duck who had some sense, and not Daffy Duck. Daffy
date on one and the publisher site isn’t showing it anywhere). I can send you pictures Duck was CRAZY. Wouldn’t want his feathers anywhere near the button!
of the ones in question (I believe it’s only 3 or 4 books) and I’d be glad to reimburse
you for any time you put in to help me. If you have any books or website suggestions to Re: Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes McLoughlin Bros, Inc. - no copyright
use as a resource, I’m open to that as well.
Thank you for responding! Jim: This was published by McLoughlin Brothers who specialized in children’s
books from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Their early books often contained
Jim: Yes, you can send me photos of the title and copyright pages. Normally, a book beautiful chromolithographs. There are
with no copyright date means that it was a much later reprint done after older versions than this one by the same
the copyright had expired and so not worth publisher, but this one is an inexpensive
much, but not always. edition without the nice color illustrations.
eBay is pretty much worthless unless you This is possibly a 1920s-50s reprint.
check completed auctions for items that Maybe $10-$20. People are sometimes
actually sold, otherwise it’s filled up with unre- interested in these because they were the
alistic asking prices. Unfortunately the same is editions that they grew up with, so even
true of many book prices online. I use book- though it’s not nearly as nice as the older
finder.com which gets prices from several sites, ones, still it might interest someone if this
but even then most of the prices are someone’s was the edition that they grew up with.
unrealistic asking prices – $50 books someone is But of course, you have to find that
trying to get $500 for, etc. Best to keep scrolling “right” person.
down to the lower, probably more realistic
prices. The Internet goes each way sometimes – Jill: I suppose also, that people in my parents’ generation
too expensive or too cheap. kept a lot of things for years on end. That’s just the way they were. Don’t throw it out,
you may need it. The original recyclers! I have my own collection of old books … over the
Re: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Samuel Clemens (can’t find one w/this cover) years I’ve picked up many. Topic didn’t matter too much. It’s always interesting to read
something completely different. I love the feel, the smell, the look of an old book. At least
Jim: Huck Finn originally came out in 1884. This is probably a 1950s inexpensive I wouldn’t seem like a weirdo to you, you get it! HAHAHA … They are unedited versions
reprint. The cover design doesn’t matter as its not a collectible book. Maybe $5 or so. too. Some people would run around with their hair on fire reading some of these rhymes
Jill: The copyright is 1942. I understand now what you are looking at. If it’s not an because they aren’t politically correct! HA! … I think I was more surprised to find how
original 1880’s then it’s just another book. many copies of things that were out there of the same types of books I have.
Jim: Despite the impressions I probably gave in my emails to you, I do love old
Jim: Well, yes, but of course there are exceptions. One edition of Huck Finn of books and we are not the only ones. And even the most ordinary copy that is
this period had illustrations by Norman Rockwell, which are interesting but not worth very little can have very special meaning to someone. Sometimes
especially valuable; but generally yes, Huck Finn was so popular there are loads of “improved” isn’t better.
copies around and not especially collectible. Plus looking at the size, I suspect it
might have been abridged for younger readers. Might have had a dust jacket, too. Jill: I can understand why people want the original version for reasons you pointed out.
Re: Friendship’s Offering, 1905 Jim: I do have a call for the older Grimm fairy tales and Hardy Boys and Nancy
Drew titles because the new ones have been modernized and “improved.” Interesting
Jill: This was my Dad’s Mom’s book. She was born in 1905. I imagine that book was that originally the Grimm’s fairy tales were not just pretty stories to entertain
from around that decade. No copyright. It’s a small book, around 3”x5”. Condition is children, but object lessons for children not to do stupid stuff because they might
rough! I just didn’t know what time period it was from. Her name is scrawled inside the come to a bad end – you know, don’t wander alone in the woods alone little girl, or
book, like a middle-schooler would write, so I had no idea what time period it was from. a wolf might get you. In fact, I read recently where the big bad wolf was actually a
personification of bad men who attacked lone women in the woods. Could be.
Jim: This book obviously has great sentimental value to you because it belonged
to your grandmother, but, alas, to put it bluntly, that wouldn’t mean much of Jill: The information you gave me helps me understand what to look for. I can’t tell
anything to anyone else unless grandmother was a famous celebrity. you how much I appreciate you taking time to answer some of my questions. Next time
we’re up that way, we’ll stop in and I can thank you in person! Many thanks!
Re: Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible
Jim: I see these around. not too exciting. Maybe $10-$15. James Dawson has owned and operated the Unicorn Bookshop in Trappe, MD since 1975,
when he decided that it would be more fun to buy and sell old books and maps than to get a
“real” job; having a shop just might be another excuse to buy more books. He has about
Jill: Hahaha, not too exciting … that’s funny but true. I think I was more surprised to 30,000 second hand and rare books on the shelves, and just about all subjects are represented.
find how many copies of things that were out there of the same types of books. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 154; Trappe, MD. 21673, 410-476-3838;
e-mail: unicornbookshopMD@gmail.com; website: unicornbookshop.com.
December 2019 45
