Page 41 - joa-3-24

Westvaco Books and Alice

Hi Jim – Thank you I appreciate it! It’s an old Alice’s Adventures
I have the Westvaco Classics books shown in the in Wonderland book by Lewis Carroll that was copyrighted
attached pic and am looking to move them on. in 1903 by McLoughlin brothers. Illustrations by John
To be honest, their choices of literature have never Tenniel. I’ve found similar ones online but can’t find any
quite aligned with mine, and they just sit on my shelf with the white knight cover as this one has.
unopened. All are in excellent to pristine condition. The binding isn’t in very good condition, it looks like
I am under no illusions about their value (eBay resale someone taped it years ago. Pages are discolored but still
looks to be between $10 and $50 depending on the title), fair. Someone also wrote on the front page giving it as a
but really don’t want to trash them. gift in 1918. I’ll attach the pictures I have if that helps
Are you interested in making an offer? Anything fair and can take more if needed. I’m just fascinated – I never
is fine. knew Alice in Wonderland was such an old book.
I could run them up to you some late afternoon. Thank you –
Let me know your thoughts. Best, P.N. B.R.

Dear P.N. Westvaco Books which the West Dear B.R.,
I used to have a good market for these Westvaco Virginia Paper and Pulp Co. gave Actually, Alice in Wonderland is older than that as it
books which the West Virginia Paper and Pulp Co. out at Christmas to their was first published in 1865 and was so popular that
gave out at Christmas to their customers starting in customers starting in 1958. it went through many editions and is still in print. And
1958 with Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow. the author’s real name was not Lewis Carroll but
A new title was done each year. The early titles were Charles L. Dodgson who was a mathematician at
interesting for their quirky and interesting book designs by Bradbury Oxford University in England, among other things.
Thompson like Red Badge of Courage which had a fake bullet hole and McLoughlin was a noted publisher of children’s books in the early
blood stains in it! And, for a time, I had someone from Westvaco buy 1900s that was in business for decades. Just because your copy says that
the early ones back to make up sets to give to preferred customers. But it was copyrighted in 1903 doesn’t mean that it was actually printed in
then she left and the company went through several mergers and name 1903 as the copyright date is a legal statement for publication
changes and I doubt if they even print these any longer. protection that lasted probably 25 years or so, so your copy could have
There used to be strong interest in them, particularly some of the been printed anywhere between 1903 and 1918 the date of the owner
early titles. In fact, I used to collect them myself. inscription. So it’s more likely to be about 1918.
But then I lost interest and sold mine and I really The picture on the cover of the McLoughlin
don’t have a market for them any longer and the editions of Alice might have changed over the
newer titles are not especially interesting. I have years that it was in print, and probably would
15 in stock now, a few of the same titles that you not affect the value.
have, but they’ve been here for a while and none The bindings on McLoughlin books were
of my customers are interested. Which is a shame not very sturdy, plus they were owned and
because they can be interesting and fun books. handled by children, so some took a beating.
So, thanks for your offer, but I am afraid that Your copy is in fair shape which affects the
I will have to pass. Sorry! – Jim D. value. Obviously, one in better condition would
be worth more.
Good afternoon! I have just acquired a book Some people collect the different editions of
from 1903 and was just wondering if you would be Alice and some people collect all the different
able to point me in the right direction to see if it McLoughlin titles of which there were many.
has any value? Thank you for your time – B.R. However, yours is not a rare book and there
are many copies for sale online in similar
Dear B.R. condition in the $20-$35 range.
I can probably help you if you can tell me Hope this is some help.
something about the book like who wrote it, Thanks – Jim D.
what is the title, who published it, what is the Alice with the White Knight
binding and what condition is it in. illustration by John Teniel, Alice’s Adventures in
Thanks, Wonderland, McLoughlin Brothers, 1918.
Jim D.

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. For a born collector like Jim, having a shop just might be another excuse to buy more books. He has about 30,000 second hand
and rare books on the shelves, and just about all subjects are represented. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 154; Trappe, MD 21673; 410-476-3838;
unicornbookshopMD@gmail.com; www.unicornbookshop.com

March 2024 39