Rhymes of a Red Cross Man- Featured Book

Jump to Comments

There are many stories out in the book collecting world that tell of a collector going into a used book store and coming out with a very rare very valuable book for only a few dollars.

It happens. More infrequently now, but it does happen.

Rhymes of a Red Cross Man was a book that my Aunt have given to me as a present one of my birthdays. Maybe about 7 or 8 years ago. I don’t recall. I doubt she purchased it for more than five dollars.

She had purchased it because I was into military history and I suppose she felt that I would enjoy it. If I remember correctly I did like it as a gift and did not think much of the possible value of it as a collectible book. I had just begun to collect books and I was not well versed in how to find out information on books and their value.

Fast forward to about two years ago. I was putting together my book collection in my computer and I need to find out the value and some information on Rhymes. so off to ABEBooks.com I went and I was pleasantly surprised.

It seems that the first edition of this book, which mine is, could fetch about $350 dollars.

So see sometimes that dollar or two dollar find in the used books store might be a nice little surprise.

Now about the book.
You can see the larger version by clicking

The book was published in 1916 by Barse and Hopkins. The author, Robert Service, was considered the “Canadian Kipling”. This is the First US Illustrated Edition hardcover. This post dates the First Us Edition that was issued in a less ornate package and was unillustrated. The First Canadian Edition was printed around the same time.

The book was issued without a dust jacket. But on the cloth cover an illustration appears. My copy shows slight rubbing on the spine and a few frays on the top of the spine. Otherwise the binding is loose but intact with minor splitting. The pages are off color slightly but the illustration plates still contain vibrant colors. The tissue paper that covers each plate is still intact.

Here are a few pictures of the interior illustration plates. (click for a larger version):

• 
• 
  
• 

Here is an example of the tissue paper over the plate with a quote from the adjoining poem:

On the overleaf there is an inscribed name, not the author’s signature, of James S Harvey, 1918. More than likely the first owner of this particular book. Usually an owner’s inscription would devalue the book but since this is just a name and not a large inscription I woudl only deduct a few tenths of a point in grading for it. Plus, it is really neat to see the name of the first owner from 1918 inscribed in the book.
Click to see the inscription

Overall this book is in very good to very good + condition (more on grading later). On a scale of 10, I would grade this book a 9.1.

I am really starting to like this little book. Every once in awhile I pick it up and read a poem here or there. They all seem to be very good. I really wouldn’t know since I am not too versed in poetry other than a few particular poets. But this book will remain in my collection for some time in the future.

1 Comment

Filed under Book Collecting, Featured Volumes, Rare Finds, Select Volumes