Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸

$325.00
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Fifth Printing, July 1936), First Edition State 🏛️📜🇺🇸

The volume presented is a First Edition, Fifth Printing of Margaret Mitchell’s landmark 1936 novel, Gone with the Wind. This copy was rushed into production in July 1936 by The MacMillan Company to meet the overwhelming public demand that followed the book's initial release.

This printing represents a crucial artifact from the first two months of the novel's publication, a period when the book instantaneously became a cultural phenomenon and a national obsession. The item is a highly desirable acquisition for a collector focusing on the bibliographical history of 20th-century American bestsellers and includes historical owner ephemera that documents its cultural journey.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨ Gone with the Wind is a sprawling epic set in the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The narrative centers on Scarlett O’Hara, a tenacious Southern belle who must rely on her strength and cunning to survive the collapse of her aristocratic world.

The novel is often cited for its detailed historical backdrop, including the burning of Atlanta and the economic realities of the post-war South. The dedication page offers a subtle touch, simply reading "TO J. R. M.", a discreet dedication by Mitchell to her husband, John R. Marsh, highlighting the author's personal context within this massive historical work.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949) was an American novelist and journalist born in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent a decade writing Gone with the Wind in relative obscurity, conducting extensive research into the historical details of the Civil War to ensure accuracy.

The book was her only published novel. Its immediate success was unprecedented in American publishing, quickly earning her the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Mitchell's prose style is characterized by its sweeping scale and detailed character psychology, cementing her as a central, though singular, figure in the Southern literary tradition.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 Gone with the Wind was released in 1936, during the height of the Great Depression. The novel’s themes of rebuilding, resilience in the face of economic ruin, and cultural upheaval resonated powerfully with an American public facing profound national hardship.

The political context was one of mounting international tension, with the rise of fascism in Europe overshadowing domestic affairs. For the American reader, the novel provided a massive, emotionally engaging escape into a narrative of survival. The book’s controversial portrayal of the Old South spurred intense national debate upon publication, as evidenced by the included contemporary newspaper clipping which places the book directly within this historical and cultural flashpoint.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This early printing is specifically curated for the collector who values bibliographical rarity coupled with rich cultural documentation. It is a necessary acquisition for a Pulitzer Prize scholar or a curator building a collection of canonical American bestsellers.

The numerous historical bookplates and dealer stamps make this item ideal for a collector who seeks a documented history of ownership. This copy appeals directly to those who appreciate an artifact that has been part of the intellectual and market life of a major literary work.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This copy is a First Edition, Fifth Printing, confirmed by the "Reprinted... July, 1936 (Twice)" note on the copyright page. Published just weeks after the first impression, this copy is 88 years old.

The value of this item is objectively high due to its Fifth Printing status and the detailed ephemera and owner markings. Its journey has seen it pass through the hands of multiple owners and the Hutchinson's Bookstore in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This book is a globally recognized literary asset whose scarcity, even in later early printings, ensures a strong and consistent market value.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The condition report is based on a direct inspection of the uploaded photography. The book has no dust jacket, but the early printing state and documented history compensate for this absence.

  • Positive Qualities: The tan cloth boards are clean and largely free of major staining. The interior text block remains tight and well-preserved, suggesting proper storage and limited reading.

  • Imperfections: The spine ends are notably worn and slightly frayed at the top and bottom edges. The text block shows age-toning and typical tanning from the acidic paper used in 1936. The front free endpaper contains pencil markings and the front inner board has multiple pasted-in bookplates and a newspaper clipping.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • Gone with the Wind was so popular that the first printing of 10,000 copies sold out almost immediately, leading the publisher to execute five printings within the first two months.

  • Margaret Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for the novel in 1937, less than a year after its publication, cementing its status as a major American literary work.

  • The pasted-in newspaper clipping about the Civil War debate is a rare piece of contemporary commentary, directly connecting this copy to the 1930s cultural discussion surrounding the book.

  • The original price of the book upon release was $3.00, making the 1968 dealer price of $1.00 a fascinating historical footnote on the book's antique market journey.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Title: Gone with the Wind

  • Author: Margaret Mitchell

  • Copyright Year: 1936

  • Printing Year: July 1936

  • Publisher: The MacMillan Company

  • Place of Origin: New York, USA

  • Binding: Hardcover tan cloth boards

  • Edition: First Edition, Fifth Printing

  • Rarity: Early Printing, Major American Classic

  • Transcription: The handwritten and stamped information is transcribed verbatim.

    • Front Flyleaf (Pencil): "C-" "1.00" "12-68"

    • Bookplate: "Mrs. Edith R. Maxwell. R.F.D. Tenants Harbor, Maine"

    • Bookstore Stamp: "HUTCHINSON'S BOOKSTORE 222-226 Union St. New Bedford. Mass."

    • Dedication Page: "TO J.R.M."

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