Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies (1947 First Edition) - Iconic Christmas Classic in Original Dust Jacket 🎄🎅🎁

This volume is an authenticated First Edition, First Printing of Miracle on 34th Street, the beloved 1947 Christmas story by Valentine Davies. Published by Harcourt, Brace and Company, the book is a foundational work of 20th-century American Christmas folklore.

The book's collectible value is secured by its definitive "first edition" status and the presence of the original illustrated dust jacket, featuring the iconic Santa, sleigh, and skyline design. The presence of the Ex Libris bookplate for "Mr. & Mrs. C. Lester King" adds a unique layer of documented personal history.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Miracle on 34th Street is a timeless fantasy about an old man named Kris Kringle who works at Macy's and Gimbels, claiming to be the genuine Santa Claus. The story details the resulting legal and social turmoil as the city is forced to decide whether it believes in Santa Claus.

The plot hinges on the salvation of Kris, the career of his lawyer, and the "political future of presiding Judge Harper," as the case goes to court. The Author's Note confirms the unique origin: the book was written after the film screenplay by George Seaton, making this one of the most famous film novelizations in American history. The dust jacket features blurbs from contemporary reviews, including praise for its "charming fairy tale" qualities.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Valentine Davies (1905–1961) was a prolific American screenwriter, director, and author. Davies began his career writing for the stage before moving into film. He is best known for writing and co-producing the original 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Story.

The creation of the book was an unusual collaboration. Davies conceived the story for the screen, and only afterward did he convert it into the novel form. He graciously acknowledges the collaboration with George Seaton, who directed the film, noting that "many of his ideas have been incorporated into this book". Davies's work has secured a permanent place in American holiday culture.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This book was published in 1947, at the beginning of the post-World War II economic boom in America. The novel's themes directly address the tension between idealism and post-war cynicism, questioning the value of commercialism (Macy's and Gimbels) versus the intangible value of belief and goodwill.

The novel's publication reflected the nation's desire for sentimental, feel-good narratives after the trauma of the war. The court case premise—where the U.S. Post Office is involved in proving Santa's existence—taps into the period's trust in American legal institutions to arbitrate even matters of faith. This volume is a time capsule of mid-century Americana, documenting the holiday culture that defined the post-war nuclear family era.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This volume is tailored for a Curator of 20th-Century Film Novelizations and a Scholar of American Christmas Folklore. The Ideal Collector seeks First Editions of pop culture classics.

The book belongs in a collection focused on Hollywood History, Academy Award Winners, or Post-War Americana. The presence of the original dust jacket and the neat Ex Libris bookplate for "Mr. & Mrs. C. Lester King" makes it a desirable piece for those who collect documented, curated private libraries.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This book is an authenticated First Edition, First Printing from 1947, making it 78 years old. Its rarity is moderate, based on the low survival rate of popular fiction from this era, especially with an intact dust jacket.

The book's value is substantially secured by the presence of the original illustrated dust jacket. The Ex Libris bookplate for "Mr. & Mrs. C. Lester King" provides a strong Ephemera Premium. The strong aesthetic appeal and its status as a First Edition of a classic cultural title justify a premium valuation.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This is an authenticated First Edition hardcover with the original dust jacket. The binding is a red cloth.

• Positive Qualities:

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

  • The original illustrated dust jacket is present and retains the full, iconic Christmas design.

  • The Ex Libris bookplate for "Mr. & Mrs. C. Lester King" is neat and intact.

  • The copyright page clearly states "first edition".

• Imperfections:

  • The dust jacket shows rubbing and moderate chipping along the edges and spine, typical of its age.

  • The red cloth boards show minimal shelf wear.

  • The book contains no explicit printing code, but the clear First Edition statement is the definitive marker.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The book was created after the film screenplay was written, a complete reversal of the normal novelization process.

• The original film won three Academy Awards, including one for Valentine Davies for Best Original Story.

• The book is printed by The Haddon Craftsmen, Scranton, PA, a detail noted on the title verso, marking a specific production lineage.

• The original publisher, Harcourt, Brace and Company, was located at 383 Madison Avenue, New York 17, a key piece of early 20th-century publishing history.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Miracle on 34th Street

• Author: Valentine Davies

• Year of Publication: 1947

• Publisher: Harcourt, Brace and Company

• Place of Origin: New York, Printed in the United States of America

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, Red Cloth Boards with Original Illustrated Dust Jacket

• Edition: First Edition, First Printing

• Rarity: Moderate Scarcity (First Edition in Dust Jacket), Unique Personal History

• Verbatim Transcription of Inscription/Marking:

  • Ex Libris Bookplate: “FROM THE LIBRARY OF Mr. & Mrs. C. Lester King”.