Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (First Edition, Illustrated), 1955 🐚⚓️📜
1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️
This is a first edition of "Gift from the Sea," a modern classic and a work of American literature by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Published in 1955, this book is a reflective work that explores themes of simplicity, solitude, and the role of women in the mid-20th century.
As a well-preserved first edition with a unique personal inscription, this volume is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of feminist literature, memoirs, or books with documented provenance.
2. About the Book 📖✍️✨
"Gift from the Sea" is a collection of essays and meditations that Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote during a two-week retreat on a secluded island beach. Using different seashells as metaphors, she reflects on the various stages of a woman's life, from youth to motherhood and old age.
This particular edition is beautifully illustrated by George W. Thompson, adding a visual elegance to the text.
3. About the Author ✍️🏛️
Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906-2001) was an accomplished American author and aviator. She was a pioneering figure in her own right, famously married to Charles Lindbergh.
She was the first American woman to earn a glider pilot’s license and served as her husband’s copilot and navigator on numerous record-breaking flights. Despite enduring immense personal tragedies, she found her voice as a writer, and her books are considered foundational texts in feminist and spiritual literature.
4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜
Published in the 1950s, this book is a "time capsule" of a pivotal era for American women. While popular culture of the time promoted the ideal of the suburban housewife, many women felt unfulfilled and were beginning to question their traditional roles.
"Gift from the Sea" gave voice to these feelings, offering a philosophical framework for finding personal fulfillment amidst the demands of marriage and family life. It is a document of a pre-feminist era that foreshadows the women's movement of the 1960s and beyond.
5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️
This book is for a curator of feminist literature, a scholar of mid-20th-century culture, or a private collector of unique memoirs. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who appreciates a book's historical significance as a cultural touchstone.
The unique personal inscription makes this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate history behind an artifact.
6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ As a true first edition from a popular author, this book is a collectible item. A well-preserved illustrated first edition is more scarce than later printings. The unique personal inscription from the previous owner makes this a non-replicable piece of personal history. The price reflects its age, its authenticity, and its unique provenance. This book is approximately 70 years old.
7. Condition 🔎📚✨
This volume is in good vintage condition. The hardcover is solid, with some rubbing and wear along the edges and spine. The binding is tight, and the pages are clean. The handwritten inscription on the inside front cover reads: "Lois D. McBride, May, 1960."
The overall condition is an honest and transparent portrayal of a well-cared-for volume that was likely a cherished part of a home library.
8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩
The book contains a personal inscription from a previous owner, dated May, 1960. Anne Morrow Lindbergh was the first American woman to earn a glider pilot’s license. She won the Hubbard Gold Medal from the National Geographic Society for her groundbreaking work in aviation.
The book uses seashells as metaphors to reflect on the various stages of a woman's life.
9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰
Title: Gift from the Sea
Author/Maker: Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Year: 1955
Publisher/Foundry: Pantheon Books
Place of Origin: New York, USA
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition, Illustrated
Rarity: Unique (due to provenance)
