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James Ginther Books,
Book Binding and Restoration LLC
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Theodore Roosevelt (he disliked being called "Teddy", perhaps because he was nicknamed "Teedy" by his parents as a child) was a naturalist (he co-authored the two volume Life-Histories of African Game Animals and contributed to The Deer Family), historian (he wrote fifteen historical and biographical books including the definitive history of the Naval War of 1812 and the four volume, critically acclaimed opus The Winning of the West), conservationist (as president he protected over 230 million acres from development and lumbering), explorer (he helped lead an expedition to find and map the 1500 Km long "River of Doubt" in the Amazon (see Through the Brazilian Wilderness), hunter, cavalry officer in the Spanish-American War (in Cuba), police commissioner of New York City, governor of New York, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the 26th President of the United States (at age 42 he was the youngest president). We have never had, and probably never will have, another president with those credentials.
Roosevelt wrote several books about hunting: Hunting Trips of a Ranchman (1885/1886), Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail (1888), The Wilderness Hunter (1893), Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter (1905), African Game Trails (1910), and A Book Lover's Holidays in the Open (1916). All of his books are still in demand among hunters and Roosevelt admirers and have been released numerous times in various editions. Many are still in print but the first editions are the most desirable.
A book is a first edition if it is so stated on the copyright page, and, usually, if the year on the title page is the same as the copyright.
Examine the photos carefully as they are an integral part of the description.
African Game Trails was released in 1910 (before he even returned from his safari) in seven formats by four publishers: Scribner's, Syndicate Publishing, Murray, and a German publisher. There are four Scribners editions: a two volume signed limited edition ($5,000+), a special edition bound in half leather with cloth covered boards ($400+ in very good or better condition), the trade edition in tan cloth with two gilt elephant heads on the front cover and tissue guards over Goodwin's prints, and the subscription edition printed by Conkey with more photographs and with a scene of elephants in a forest on the front cover. There is the Syndicate Publishing edition published under agreement with Scribners. It has an ornate scene on the front cover of Roosevelt shooting a lion off of a native and the Goodwin prints are in color. The British edition was published by Murray with a rhino on the cover. The German edition is not commonly seen. |
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1910 First Edition. Scribner's edition in binding of half dark brown leather over burgundy cloth. Very good. This is the edition printed by Conkey with the additional photos. New endpapers. Text is clean with slight age toning. Gilt titling on spine is bright and clear. 583 pages with appendices and index. Map of Roosevelt's route in front of book. Illustrated with plates by Goodwin and numerous photographs by Kermit Roosevelt and other members of the safari. |
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1910 First Edition. First state printing as evidenced by two gilt elephant heads on front cover and captioned tissue guards for Goodwin plates. Very good. Slight sunning of spine but all gilt lettering is sharp. Text is clean without marks or stains. Some spotting of gilt top of text block (see photos). |
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1910. First Edition. Very good. 583 pages with index and appendices. Map of Roosevelt's route in front of book. Scribner's edition with Conkey seal. More illustrations than the first trade edition with plates by Goodwin and photographs by Kermit Roosevelt and other members of the safari. Slight cloth wear at top and bottom of spine and corners. Binding is tight. New endpapers. Interior very good. The 1909 copyright date is for the articles that Roosevelt wrote for Scribners Magazine while still on safari. This is a "must have" for any hunter's or Roosevelt admirer's library. |
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1910 Syndicate Publishing First Edition. Very Good plus. Tight binding and clean pages. Bookplate on front paste down. Over 200 photographs. Goodwin plates are in color. A beautiful book. |
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Life-Histories of African Game Animals (with Edmund Heller) |
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1914 First Edition. All original and in Very Good Plus in unread, collectible condition. There is minimal discoloration of the top of the pages, possibly from dust that filtered down from the top of the books over the years. Someone may have "paged through" the books but they have not been read as there are numerous uncut pages (see above photo) in both volumes. During the process of "paging through" three pages suffered tears since the pages were uncut. These were professionally repaired as illustrated by page xvi of the Preface of Volume I (see photo above). Minimal wear of the upper corners of Vol I. and Vol. II (see photo). Some chipping of leather title labels (see photo) which is common with these books, but less than that of a set being offered on-line for $2,000. An ex-library set in similar condition in the original binding is being offered for $900. These books are rare in original condition.
Vol. I 420 pages with 25 illustrations (three plates by Goodwin who illustrated Roosevelt's African Game Trails) and eleven maps describing the distribution of the fauna. 42 uncut pages which means 84 pages are not opened to be read.
Vol II. 378 pages including index and appendices as well as a 15 page bibliography. There are 28 maps and 25 illustrations (five are plates by Goodwin). 43 uncut pages which means 86 pages are not opened to be read.
This is a scholarly work dealing with the natural history of African game animals, but it also includes some hunting stories. The stories of lion hunting are particularly intriguing.
The uncut pages can be opened, if desired.
Item will be insured for the purchase price. |
Price: $875.00 FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.! |
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Life-Histories of African Game Animals (with Edmund Heller) |
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1914 First Edition. Both volumes rebound in brown cloth with Morrocco leather labels. These books are Near Fine and they have never been read. When I received them there were numerous uncut pages in both volumes which I carefully opened because I planned to read them, but did not because I bought a less expensive set. There is no bumping of the corners or wear of the tops or bottoms of the spine cloths. The pages are immaculate other than a small stain at the top of the frontis of Volume I (see photo). Otherwise there are no stains, handling marks, writing, folds, or age-toning. There are scratches of the top of Volume I gilt and dulling of the gilt tops of both volumes (see photo). Included is a card the origin of which I am not certain (see photo).
I don't understand why these books were rebound, other than perhaps the orininal covers of one or both books were damaged without any involvement of the interiors.
  
A scholarly work which includes some stories of hunts and much on the natural history and distribution of African game animals. Roosevelt, with his son and Heller, spent eleven months on safari in Africa 1909-1910. They collected specimens for the Smithsonian Institution.
Volume I. 420 pages with eleven maps and 25 illustrations (three plates by Goodwin).
  
Volume II. 378 pages including index and appendices. Bibliography pages 759 to 774. 28 maps and 25 illustrations (five plates by Goodwin).
Ex-library sets in library bindings with the usual markings and in fair to good condition are selling for $275 to over $500 and an ex-library set in good condition in the original binding for $900. A set in the original binding in very good condition is selling for $2000.
Books will be insured for purchase price. |
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Seery-Lester, J. The Legendary Hunts of Theodore Roosevelt |
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2015 First Edition. Collector's Edition bound in Leather, #266/350. Unlike the first two books in Seery-Lester's series, this limited edition did not come with a separate print. This title sold out rapidly and even the trade edition, which originally sold for $60, is commanding prices over $150. I could find no other copies of the Collector's Edition on line so this is a highly collectible book. Stories of Roosevelt's hunts in the Dakota Badlands, Maine, Arkansas, Mississippi, Wyoming, Colorado, Africa, and Brazil. Also his last hunt for moose and his expedition to explore the "River of Doubt" in the Amazon. Final stories of Ted Jr's and Kermit's hunts for Asian sheep and the giant panda. All stories accompanied by Seery-Lester's excellent artwork. This is a large book: 11 in. X 12 in. Seery-Lester died in 2020 and his books are in great demand.
Book will be insured for purchase price. |
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Hunting Trips of a Ranchman |
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1897 printing of 1886 first trade edition. The first edition was the Medora Edition limited to 500 copies. Very good original condition. Pages are not age-toned and there is only a small stain at the top of pages from front free endpaper to page 3 (see photo of title page). 347 pages with 26 full page illustrations by Frost, Gifford, Sandham, and Beard. Crease in lower corner of front cover. This was the next printing after the 1886 trade edition. The only difference between the two editions is the type of cloth. There are only two 1897 editions available on-line. This was Roosevelt's first book on hunting. Interesting chapters on ranching in the late 19th century. |
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Good Hunting. In Pursuit of Big Game in the West |
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1907 First Edition. Good plus. Stories of hunting the big game of the West. Scattered foxing and small spots on front cover (see photos). Fairly scarce, especially in this condition. A copy in similar condition is offered on-line for $300. |
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Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter |
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1905 First Edition. Illustrated. 48 illustrations, mostly from photographs. 369 pages including Appendix. Good. Covers with some discoloration. Slight staining on the title page and pages before and after it as pictured above. Internal hinges reinforced with conservator's mending tissue. Very clean text. A great description of Roosevelt's hunting experiences in the West. |
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The Winning of the West Volumes I, II, III, and IV |
In all the years I have been researching and selling Roosevelt books I have never seen a set of true first editions of all four volumes offered for sale. And the reason is simple: Putnam's could never publish one because Roosevelt completed the four volumes in three different years: Volumes I and II in 1889, Volume III in 1894, and Volume IV in 1896. Putnam's sold the books individually after 1889, but by the time Volume III was published in 1894 there probably were not any 1889 first editions in stock. So of a set that was purchased in 1894 of Volumes I, II and III, only Volume III would be a true first edition. Of a set compiled in 1896 of all four volumes only Volume IV was a true first edition, and possibly Volume III if any were in stock. Theoretically, someone who bought Volumes I and II in 1889 could then buy Volumes III in 1894 and IV in 1896 to complete a set of first editions. But I have never seen such a set for sale. Books were published in the orginal binding individually or in sets until about 1900. It took me three years to complete this set of true first editions by purchasing sets that contained first editions of volumes III and IV when they were offered for sale. Therefore, it is unlikely one will ever find another collection of true first editions for sale.
True First Editions. All volumes recased in original boards and spine cloths and new ivory colored laid endpapers that match the original. Top of text block is bright gilt on all books. Very mild "sunning" of the spines of volumes I, II, and IV. Slight wear and bumping of corners on all books. Mild wear at the head and tail of spines and bottoms of front and back covers. Some spotting of front and back covers. Putnam's did not add headbands to the books until the 1896 edition so Volume IV is the only book with headbands. Review the photos to see the condition of each book.
Volume I Volume II Volume III Volume IV
   
(The pages are not as dark as the photos show.)
Loss of about 1/8 inch of cloth at top of spine with new cloth pieced-in (see photo).
    
    
Volume IV 1791 to 1807. 362 pages with index and ads for other Roosevelt books in back. Details of further westward expansion, particularly the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark's and Pike's explorations (see photo of CONTENTS). Crease of spine cloth at bottom and 1/8 inch splits at top and bottom of front gutter. Unfortunately page 105 was probably uncut and opened carelessly and a piece of the page was missing but a new piece of similar paper was attached to correct the defect (see photo). A small piece is missing from page 109 (see photo). Pages 109 and 121 have small tears that are closed with conservator's mending tissue. Three pages are cut about 1/4 inch short both length and width, which probably occurred during binding. There are minor handling marks in the beginning of the book but this book was probably never read after page 125 as there are no handling marks and five sets of pages are uncut after that page. Includes advertisement for The Story of the Civil War (for $1.50).
      
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In 1900, when Roosevelt became Vice President, and then President upon McKinley's death, a set was published in the original binding, but none of the books were first editions. One such set is selling for $650 in very good condition. The much sought Alleghany Edition was first published in 1900 and again in 1902 in a special binding containing numerous illustrations and all five maps and selling for more than $1200. 50 sets of this edition were published in 1900 and given by then Vice President Roosevelt to members of the U.S. diplomatic service. It is probably the rarest of all of Roosevelt's publications (I have seen only two examples for sale, one of which is in my collection).
The Daniel Boone Edition (limited to 200 sets), also published in 1900, is signed by Roosevelt and each set includes a page from the original manuscript (that must have included thousands of handwritten pages) in Volume 1. It sells for $9,000 to $25,000 with only three sets available online.
After 1900 most sets of The Winning of the West were published as part of collections of the works of Roosevelt. The Standard Library Edition has 4 volumes. The Homeward Bound, Dakota, Presidential, Prairie, Elkhorn, and Current Literature editions, to name a few, were 6 volume sets. And sets are still being published today.
A fascinating history of the westward expansion of our nation from 1769 to 1807. Much more than we learned in school. Several chapters on the conflicts between the settlers and Indians as well as on the hunters and trappers who paved the way for the settlers. Roosevelt researched hundreds of documents from the State Department, state archives, and personal papers as he was writing these books and these are listed in the Preface of Volume 1. This work received critical acclaim from historians and the public.
Books will be insured for purchase price. |
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1910. First Edition. Very good. 529 pages with index and appendices. Map of Roosevelt's route in front of book. First state printing of Scribner's trade edition, as evidenced by captioned tissue protected plates by Phillip Goodwin. Illustrated with photographs by Kermit Roosevelt and other members of the safari. Rebound in dark brown half leather over brown paper covered boards. Top of text block is gilt. Text clean with slight age toning. Binding tight. The 1909 copyright date is for the articles that Roosevelt wrote for Scribners Magazine while still on safari. |
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1910. First British Edition. 529 pages with index and appendices. Illustrated with plates by Goodwin and photographs by Kermit Roosevelt and other members of the safari. Rebound in period-appropriate half leather with marbled boards and endpapers. Some pages with foxing/handling marks. |
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1914 printing of 1913 first edition. 615 pages with index and appendices. Near fine original condition. Minimal wear. Roosevelt wrote his autobiography because he needed the money after his loss in the presidential campaign of 1912. But he refused to include anything too personal or about his wife or children. |
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The Deer Family (with Van Dyke, Elliot, and Stone) |
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1902 First Edition. 334 pages. Illustrated by Carl Rungius. Good. Five pages trimmed about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch narrower (without affecting the text), probably due to the uncut pages being carelessly opened, therefore priced accordingly. Chapters by Roosevelt, Van Dyke, Stone, and Elliott on all members of the deer family: whitetail, mule deer, blacktail, moose, wapiti (elk), and caribou, and a chapter on the pronghorn. |
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Through the Brazilian Wilderness |
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1921 printing of 1914 first edition. Very good plus condition. 410 pages with index and foldout map. Illustrated with photographs. TR and Kermit, with Colonel Rondon, went in search of the "River of Doubt" and eventually mapped its 1500 kilometers, resulting in it being renamed Rio Teodoro. TR almost died on this expedition and one of its members was murdered by another. |
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Life-Histories of Africa Game Animals (with Edmund Heller) |
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2000 Palladium Press Special Edition of the 1914 First Edition, printed for members of the Theodore Roosevelt Classics Library of Hunting and Adventure. Two volumes in bonded leather with gilt text block and gilt titles and designs. Marbled endpapers. Near fine condition from my library with my blind stamp on verso of limitation pages in back of books (see photo). Volume I: 420 pages with 25 illustrations and 10 maps, one in color. Volume II: 378 pages with 25 illustrations and 29 maps showing the distribution of game animals discussed. This is an amazing and comprehensive work with some anecdotal hunting included. The first edition sells for over $500 in fair or ex-library condition and $2000 in very good condition. |
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Hunting Trips of a Ranchman |
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1999 Palladium Press Special Edition printing of the 1885 First Edition. Privately printed for Members of the Theodore Roosevelt Classics Library of Hunting and Adventure. Bonded leather with gilt text block.Very good with minor bumping of lower corners of front and back boards. Minor rubbing of gilt designs on front cover, otherwise gilt titles and designs are bright. Minor handling marks of gilt on text block. 347 pages with 25 full page illustrations by various artists. |
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Roosevelt, Kermit, Jr. A Sentimental Safari |
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1963 First Edition. Very good in good dust jacket. Numerous photographs. Theodore Roosevelt's grandson and great-grandson retrace some of his 1909 safari in Kenya. |
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See The Long Trail by Kermit Roosevelt under "Interesting Editions" and East of the Sun West of the Moon by Kermit and Theodore, Jr. under "Other Big Game Hunting". |
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