The Courtship of a Careful Man, by Edward Sanford Martin, (First Edition, Illustrated), 1905 💑💼📜

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a First Edition of "The Courtship of a Careful Man" by writer and editor Edward Sanford Martin. Published by Harper & Brothers in 1905, this collection offers observations on romantic relationships and societal expectations.

The book is a sound acquisition for a collector of early 20th-century American social humor. It is a verifiable artifact from the American Belle Époque.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

"The Courtship of a Careful Man" is a humorous exploration that follows the deliberate courtship of a man who approaches love with the same meticulousness he applies to his daily affairs. Through a series of amusing encounters, Martin's narrative delves into the complexities of human connection.

The book highlights the clash between practicality and passion and the challenges of navigating social conventions. It offers a commentary on the intricacies of courtship and the balance between reason and emotion.

3. About the Author ✍️🏛️

Edward Sanford Martin (1856-1939) was a prominent American writer, editor, and social commentator. He was a founding editor of "Life" magazine.

His witty essays and satirical observations on contemporary life garnered a wide readership. His work is a record of American social thought at the turn of the century and solidified his place as a respected voice of his time.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1905, this collection of stories captures the tone of the American Belle Époque, a period of leisure and social refinement. The book provides a direct look into the cultural norms and attitudes surrounding courtship and marriage in the early 20th century.

The publisher, Harper & Brothers, was one of the most influential American publishing houses of its day. This book’s quality production is a testament to their reputation for fine literature.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a collector of classic American social humor, a scholar of early 20th-century literature, or a private library of decorative bindings. It is an item for an individual who values a book's literary and historical significance.

The volume appeals to a collector who appreciates unique historical book art and a glimpse into a past era of American life and relationships.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1905 First Edition is 120 years old.

As a literary first edition, it holds value for its place in history. The book's value is in its aesthetic design and its historical context.

The book’s decorative pictorial cloth binding with gilt and green stamping is a verifiable example of early 20th-century decorative book art. The bookseller stamp for "Howland's" adds a unique piece of history to this volume.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

• Used hardcover edition with a decorative pictorial cloth binding.

• The gilt and colored stamping are largely discernible.

• The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.

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

• A bookseller stamp is on the inside front cover.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Edward Sanford Martin was a founding editor of the original Life magazine, which was a general-interest magazine known for its humor and illustrations.

• The book was published by Harper & Brothers, one of the most prominent American publishers of its time, known for its extensive list of authors, including Mark Twain.

• The bookseller stamp from Howland's is a piece of local history from Bridgeport, Connecticut.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Author: Edward Sanford Martin

• Publication Date: 1905

• Edition: First Edition

• Publisher: Harper & Brothers

• Place of Publication: New York and London

• Format: Hardcover, with decorative pictorial binding

• Genre: Short Stories, Social Commentary, Americana

• Notes: Illustrated. A bookseller stamp is on the inside front cover.