Grand Canyon Country by M. R. Tillotson & Frank J. Taylor (1944 Stanford Press Printing) - National Park Service History 🏞️📜🇺🇸

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This volume is an authenticated Sixth Printing (1944) of Grand Canyon Country, a celebrated travel and historical guide originally published in 1929.

It is a unique piece of Americana and conservation history, written by M. R. Tillotson, the Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, and Frank J. Taylor.

The book is a product of the Stanford University Press and features a powerful Foreword by Horace M. Albright, the Director of the National Park Service. The book is a strong acquisition for collectors who prioritize firsthand, institutional accounts of America's natural wonders and the early administration of its park system.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Grand Canyon Country is a comprehensive guide to the geology, indigenous cultures, and exploration of the Grand Canyon region. The volume provides an authoritative and detailed look at the area's history, covering topics like its discovery, indigenous tribes, local wildlife, and the challenges of making the wilderness accessible for enjoyment. The chapter titles are highly descriptive, including "Indians and Their Customs," "The Story of the Park," and "Making the Wilderness Easy to Enjoy".

The book features numerous historical photographic plates and a highly desirable hand-drawn "Cartograph" map that details the region. The photographs capture the early days of tourism and park management, including images of the canyon's iconic features like "The Battleship" seen from El Tovar, South Rim. The text also includes valuable anthropological content, such as photographs of Navajo silversmiths and Havasupai Indian huts.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

The authors, M. R. Tillotson and Frank J. Taylor, were uniquely positioned to write this volume. Tillotson served as the Superintendent of the Grand Canyon National Park, lending the narrative unassailable institutional authority and firsthand knowledge. Taylor was a noted journalist and author who specialized in the history and geography of the American West. The Foreword by Horace M. Albright further elevates the book's standing. Albright was the Director of the National Park Service and co-founder of the organization, making his participation a major institutional endorsement. The book is a direct product of the early National Park Service's effort to educate the public about America's natural treasures and promote a conservation ethic.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This edition was printed in 1944, during the climactic final years of World War II. While the nation was focused on the war effort, this volume served a crucial function by preserving the American conservation narrative and the enduring beauty of its natural landmarks. The original 1929 publication occurred during the boom of the Roaring Twenties and the rapid expansion of the National Park system under the direction of Albright.

The content reflects the early days of conservation, where the emphasis was on "Making the Wilderness Easy to Enjoy"—a balance between preservation and public access. The book stands as a time capsule, capturing the official U.S. government perspective on the Grand Canyon, including its history of exploration, indigenous communities, and the creation of the park system itself. The book is an artifact of a period when the value of America's wilderness was being formally codified and documented for the nation.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This volume is tailored for a Curator of American Natural History and Western Travel and a Scholar of the National Park Service. The Ideal Collector values books with verifiable institutional authority and a direct connection to a specific, iconic American landmark.

The book belongs in a library focused on Americana, Western Exploration, or U.S. Government History. The association with the Superintendent of the Grand Canyon and the Director of the National Park Service makes it an essential acquisition for those who collect the history of American conservation. The strong aesthetic of the cover and the internal maps make it an ideal display piece.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This book is an authenticated Sixth Printing from 1944, making it 81 years old. As a later printing, it is a common edition. The original 1929 First Edition is significantly more scarce. This reprint status requires a mandatory deduction from the aspirational ceiling price of the first printing.

The value is secured by its high Content Scarcity and Aesthetic Premium. The book contains unique, primary-source historical photographs and maps that are essential to the history of the Grand Canyon. The visually striking orange cover and the association with the National Park Service ensures its value is positioned at a premium for a clean, antique, decorative volume.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This is a 1944 hardcover printing lacking the original dust jacket. The binding is an orange cloth with black stamping and illustration.

• Positive Qualities:

  • The binding is tight and square, providing excellent structural integrity.

  • The vibrant orange pictorial cloth cover remains bright and retains its full aesthetic appeal.

  • The photographic plates and the detailed Cartograph map are all present and clean.

  • The book contains the full, historically significant Foreword by Horace M. Albright.

• Imperfections:

  • The corners and edges show minimal shelf wear, consistent with an antique volume.

  • The pages are lightly age-toned due to the paper quality.

  • The absence of the original dust jacket mandates a reduction from the top-tier collector price.

     

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The book was published by Stanford University Press, a detail that adds a layer of academic authority to the National Park Service narrative.

• The "Cartograph" map featured in the book was drawn by Ruth Taylor White, adding a distinctive, artistic touch to the volume's geography.

• Horace M. Albright, who wrote the Foreword, was the second director of the National Park Service and one of the most dedicated and influential figures in American conservation.

• The illustrations include an image of a Navajo silversmith at work before his hogan, providing a valuable visual record of the region's indigenous culture during the mid-20th century.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Grand Canyon Country

• Author: M. R. Tillotson and Frank J. Taylor

• Foreword: Horace M. Albright

• Year of Publication: 1944 (Sixth Printing)

• Publisher: Stanford University Press

• Place of Origin: Stanford University, California

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, Orange Cloth Boards with Black Stamping

• Edition: Sixth Printing

• Rarity: Common Edition, High Content Scarcity (Institutional Authority)

• Verbatim Transcription of Inscription/Marking: On the front free endpaper: "26-2544" and "$14.95".