Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge (Illustrated Edition with Inscriptions), 1933 🇳🇱⛸️🎨

1. Introduction 📜🔍🤯

This is an illustrated edition of the beloved children's classic, Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge. Published in 1933, this volume is a charming artifact from the golden age of children's literature, with its vibrant illustrations and unique provenance. This particular copy, with its personal inscriptions and ex-libris sticker, is a premier acquisition for any collector of classic children's books or early 20th-century Americana.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Hans Brinker is a heartwarming children's novel set in 19th-century Holland. The story follows the impoverished Brinker siblings, Hans and Gretel, who dream of winning the annual skating race and its coveted prize: a pair of silver skates. The narrative masterfully intertwines the children's personal struggles with a detailed and accurate portrayal of Dutch life and culture. This edition, with illustrations by George Lawson, provides a visual richness that brings the canals, windmills, and the children's world to life.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker 🇫🇷✍️🏛️

Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905) was an influential American author and editor who is considered a pioneer of modern children's literature. A prolific writer, she is best known for Hans Brinker, a book so meticulously researched that it was praised by the Dutch themselves for its accuracy, even though Dodge had never visited the country. She also served as the editor of the highly respected St. Nicholas Magazine, a publication that featured works by literary giants like Mark Twain and Louisa May Alcott. Her legacy is in her ability to craft engaging stories that both entertained children and introduced them to the wider world.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in the midst of the Great Depression, this book is a "time capsule" of an era when literature provided a much-needed escape from hardship. While the original novel was written in 1865, this 1933 edition was released at a time when American publishers were actively reprinting classics for a new generation of readers. It reflects a desire to reconnect with stories of perseverance, family, and hope, themes that resonated deeply with a public facing immense economic challenges.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a curator of children's literature, a bibliophile specializing in illustrated editions, or a private collector of Americana who values the unique provenance of a historical artifact. The book speaks to a collector who cherishes the physical connection to the past, appreciating not only the story itself but the personal history embedded within its pages. The inscriptions and ex-libris tag make this a truly unique piece for a specialized collection.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a first illustrated edition from The Saalfield Publishing Company in 1933, this is a collectible item. While the original 1865 first editions command a much higher price, a well-preserved illustrated copy from this period is still valuable for a collector of classic children's literature. The unique provenance, including the gift inscription and ex-libris sticker, makes this particular volume a non-replicable piece of personal history. The price reflects its age, its condition, and its unique story.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is in good vintage condition, reflecting its use as a well-loved children's book. The hardcover shows rubbing and wear on the corners and spine, which is expected for a book of this age. The pages have some discoloration consistent with time. The binding is solid. There is a specific note that one page is slightly torn and bent inward, a transparent and honest portrayal of a book with a rich history.

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

This book holds two unique marks of provenance. The first is a handwritten gift inscription on the front endpaper, which reads:

“To Elise, from Mother, January 9, 1935”

The second is an ex-libris sticker on the same page that states:

“From The Books Of Billy Staley”

These inscriptions provide a fascinating glimpse into the book's chain of ownership, documenting its journey as a cherished gift and a treasured part of a family's library.

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• In the book, the famous story of the boy who plugs a dike with his finger is a "tale-within-a-tale," not a direct part of Hans Brinker's own story. It's a fun fact that many people don't know about the classic novel.

• The book is credited with popularizing the sport of speed skating in America, as it provided many readers with their first introduction to the sport.

• Mary Mapes Dodge was so celebrated in her time that the sales of Hans Brinker in its first year were exceeded only by those of Charles Dickens.

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates

• Author/Maker: Mary Mapes Dodge

• Year: 1933

• Publisher/Foundry: The Saalfield Publishing Company

• Place of Origin: Akron, Ohio, USA

• Format/Binding: Hardcover

• Edition: Illustrated Edition

• Rarity: Unique (due to provenance)