A Little American Girl in India by Harriet A. Cheever (First Edition, Illustrated, Rare), 1900 🐘🗺️📚

This is a First Edition of A Little American Girl in India by Harriet A. Cheever. Published in 1900 by Little, Brown, and Company, the book is a narrative that offers a look into early American perceptions of foreign cultures. The illustrations by H.C. Ireland enhance the book's value. This volume is a blend of a travelogue and a children’s novel, making it a representation of its era.

2. About the Book/Object 📖✍️✨

A Little American Girl in India is a narrative that documents an early American view of foreign cultures. The book’s content is a mix of a travelogue and a children’s novel. The illustrations by H.C. Ireland are a notable feature, bringing to life the scenes of India and its people.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Harriet A. Cheever was an American author of children's books and a frequent contributor to various publications at the turn of the 20th century. Her writing focused on stories for younger readers. The book is also notable for the illustrations by H.C. Ireland, who was a known artist during the period.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1900, this book is a product of the Gilded Age in America. The book’s popularity was a result of the era’s cultural values, which placed an emphasis on self-improvement, hard work, and domestic piety. This book is a reflection of the "Gospel of Self-Help" that was popular during the Gilded Age. Its aesthetic appeal as a well-bound and handsomely printed volume makes it a direct example of American bookmaking from the period.

The book’s publication also demonstrates a cultural commitment to making classic literature accessible to a broader audience at a time of rapid growth in American publishing. The numerous engravings and the visual content of the book reflect a time when authors and publishers were looking to document and preserve their personal and family legacies through books.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a collector who specializes in turn-of-the-century children’s literature, American publishing history, or travelogues from the Gilded Age. It is an item for a library that focuses on the evolution of children’s books and the way foreign cultures were documented in American literature.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This is a First Edition of a work from the Gilded Age.

The book is 125 years old, having survived over a century. Its value is enhanced by its beautiful illustrations and the pictorial cloth binding. This book is an example of early 20th-century publishing and a representation of its era.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

• The binding is a pictorial cloth.

• The binding shows wear consistent with its age, including rubbing and scuffing, and some loss of the original finish.

• The pages have some expected discoloration and foxing.

• The text and illustrations remain clear and readable.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• This volume is an example of a "crossover" collectible, appealing to collectors of rare books, children's literature, and Americana.

• The book's dedication is to "my dear sister," which adds a personal detail to its history.

• The book’s pictorial cloth binding, which features an elephant and an Indian street scene, is an example of early 20th-century decorative book art.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: A Little American Girl In India

• Author: Harriet A. Cheever

• Illustrator: H.C. Ireland

• Year: 1900

• Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company

• Place of Origin: Boston

• Edition: First Edition

• Format: Hardcover, Pictorial Cloth