Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Illustrated by Garth Williams (Illustrated Edition, Discarded Library Copy), 1953 🧑‍🌾🏡🌾

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a 1953 illustrated edition of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy.

Published by Harper & Brothers, this volume is an example of mid-20th-century children's literature. The book's history as a former library copy, with its documented markings, gives it a specific record.

The volume is a documented example of a widely-circulated children's book. The book’s physical status as a discarded library volume provides a record of its past. 

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Farmer Boy is the second book in the Little House series. It tells the story of Almanzo Wilder, Laura's future husband, as a young boy in rural New York. The book provides a detailed account of farm life in the late 19th century, including seasonal chores and daily routines.

This illustrated edition is noted for its artwork by Garth Williams, an illustrator known for his work in children's books. The book’s narrative provides a look into American farm life.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) was an American writer who used her childhood experiences to create the semi-autobiographical Little House on the Prairie series. Her books are a record of the American frontier.

The illustrations for this edition were done by Garth Williams, an illustrator known for his work on books such as E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. The book was published by Harper & Brothers, an American publishing house.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1953, this book appeared during a period of family-oriented entertainment and historical fiction in America. The Little House series served as a record of a more rural past, shaping a national identity around themes of self-reliance.

The book’s focus on farm life and pioneer values resonated with a post-war America. The volume is a record of a time when the nation was looking to its history for inspiration.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a collector of classic children's literature, a fan of the Little House on the Prairie series, or a bibliophile specializing in Americana. 

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This edition of Farmer Boy is a widely circulated and common classic. 

The price is a direct reflection of the book's condition for an item that is 72 years old. 

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ This book shows signs of wear consistent with its use as a library copy.

• The binding is intact.

• The spine is frayed at the top and bottom.

• The pages are discolored and show a stamp that reads "DISCARDED" on the endpaper.

• The hardcovers show some rubbing and wear on the corners and spine.

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book contains a handwritten inscription on the endpaper, as well as a stamp that reads "DISCARDED." These markings document the book's history as a public resource. The transcription of the handwritten inscription was not provided.

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The Little House on the Prairie series was adapted into a television show that aired from 1974 to 1983.

• Garth Williams also illustrated other classics of children's literature, including E.B. White's Charlotte's Weband Stuart Little.

• The book's discarded library stamp provides a specific, verifiable record of the book's past circulation.

• The book tells the story of Almanzo Wilder's childhood, which took place in New York, not the American West.