Ladybird by Grace Livingston Hill (Ex-Library Edition), 1930 🐦📜🌹

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a 1930 Grosset & Dunlap edition of Grace Livingston Hill's novel, Ladybird. This volume is a former library book from the Richmond Public Library in Virginia. The book's history as a public library volume documents its role in the reading habits of the early 20th century.

This edition is a record of early 20th-century fiction. Its history as a library copy makes it a verifiable artifact for a collector interested in the evolution of American literature and library history. The book's physical state and library markings document its life as a publicly circulated volume.

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2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Ladybird is a romantic novel that follows the story of a young woman named Lulie. The narrative explores themes of love, faith, and moral integrity. The book is an example of the Christian fiction genre, which was a popular form of literature in the early 20th century.

The physical book, with its cloth binding and typography, represents the publishing standards of the era. The book's content provides a look into the moral themes and romantic plots that were prevalent in popular fiction at the time. This volume documents its place in a specific literary movement.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Grace Livingston Hill (1865-1947) was an American author who became a figure in the genre of Christian fiction. She published more than 100 novels and was a consistent bestseller in the early 20th century. Her books are known for their direct moral themes and romantic plots.

This book was published by Grosset & Dunlap, a major American publisher that specialized in low-cost editions of popular fiction. The company’s business model was to make literature accessible to a wide audience. This volume is a product of this publishing strategy.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1930, this book appeared on the eve of the Great Depression. The book's focus on moral integrity provided a form of entertainment for a public that was dealing with economic and social change.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ 

This book is intended for a collector of vintage American literature, a fan of Grace Livingston Hill, or a bibliophile specializing in library history. 

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This edition of Ladybird is a well-preserved ex-library edition of a classic work. Its value is derived from its documented history and its physical condition. 

The price is a direct reflection of the book's condition and its history for an item that is 95 years old. Its market value is based on its standing in the field of vintage popular fiction and library ephemera.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book is in "fair" condition, showing signs of wear consistent with its age.

• The light blue cloth binding has some minor scuffing, but the binding is sound.

• The pages are clean and well-preserved.

• There are no major tears or owner markings.

• The book's history as a library copy is documented by visible library stamps.

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

The inside of the book has a stamp that reads, "RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY RICHMOND, VA." This marking documents the book's journey as a volume from a public library.

• Transcription: "RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY RICHMOND, VA."

This stamp establishes that this volume was once a part of the public collection in Richmond, Virginia.

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9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Grace Livingston Hill was a prolific author, publishing over 100 novels during her career.

• Grosset & Dunlap was known for publishing affordable reprints of popular fiction, making books accessible to a mass audience.

• The book’s focus on wholesome romance provided a form of entertainment during a period of economic uncertainty.

• The library stamp from the Richmond Public Library provides a specific, verifiable history of the book's circulation and use.