Mother West Wind “Why” Stories by Thornton W. Burgess (1915 Grosset & Dunlap Reprint) - Harrison Cady Illustrated 🦉🐇📜

This volume is an authenticated early reprint of Mother West Wind “Why” Stories, published under the 1915 copyright by Grosset & Dunlap. It is a cornerstone piece of early American children's literature, authored by the noted conservationist Thornton W. Burgess. The book belongs to the famous "Mother West Wind Series". The value is secured by the iconic illustrations by Harrison Cady and the book's visual integrity as a clean, decorative antique. This piece is a strong acquisition for a collector seeking the nostalgic aesthetic of the Golden Age of Illustration at an advantageous price point.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Mother West Wind “Why” Stories is a collection of charming tales that provide imaginative explanations for animal characteristics. The core narrative is driven by Grandfather Frog, who, being old and very wise, tells "all about the days when the world was young". The book answers questions such as "Why Striped Chipmunk Is Proud of His Stripes" and "Why Unc' Billy Possum Plays Dead".

The stories feature a full cast of the Green Forest animals, including Peter Rabbit, Reddy Fox, and Jimmy Skunk. The content page reveals the whimsical nature of the lessons, including chapters like "Why Sammy Jay Has a Fine Coat" and "Why Buster Bear Appears to Have No Tail". The volume contains illustrations by Harrison Cady, including a frontispiece titled "He went right on about his business," which shows the cast of characters interacting in the Green Forest.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874–1965) was one of America’s most prolific children's authors, writing over 170 books that popularized the nature story genre. His work was driven by a deep commitment to wildlife conservation. Burgess was instrumental in educating children about the natural world, a dedication he maintained for over five decades through his syndicated columns and books.

This book is part of the extensive collaboration between Burgess and illustrator Harrison Cady. Cady's detailed, anthropomorphic illustrations defined the look of the "Mother West Wind Series," bringing the Green Forest and Smiling Pool to life for millions of young readers. The partnership between the author and illustrator created a consistent, recognizable style that remains a benchmark for early 20th-century children's literature.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This book was published under the 1915 copyright, a period when the United States was transitioning through the Progressive Era and grappling with the beginning of World War I in Europe. This era saw a significant growth in conservation movements.

Burgess's stories provided an essential cultural counterbalance to the era's growing industrialization and violence, offering a world of gentle morality and respect for nature. His work reinforced the virtues of the rural, natural world, serving to instill a conservation ethic in the generation of children who were learning about the world through his animal parables. The book serves as a time capsule, documenting a key moment in the history of American environmental education and popular culture.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This volume is tailored for a Curator of Children's Fantasy and Folklore and a devotee of the work of Harrison Cady. The Ideal Collector is a scholar of early 20th-century American literary series and conservation history.

The book belongs in a collection that features classic illustrated editions and narratives that shaped American moral and educational views. Its vibrant pictorial cover and strong aesthetic make it an ideal piece for display in a luxury library environment.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This book is an authenticated reprint from 1915, making it 110 years old. Published by the reprint house Grosset & Dunlap, this is a common edition. The original 1915 First Edition from Little, Brown, and Company is the scarce volume. This mandates a mandatory deduction from the aspirational collector price.

The value is secured by its Aesthetic Premium and its superior physical condition for a book of this type and age. The volume retains its structural integrity and the iconic blue pictorial cover is intact, making it a desirable decorative antique. This piece is objectively a strong acquisition for its clean presentation of a foundational title.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This is a 1915 copyright hardcover reprint lacking the original dust jacket. The binding is a blue cloth with black stamping and a pictorial paste-down.

• Positive Qualities:

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

  • The blue pictorial cloth cover is clean and aesthetically strong.

  • The Harrison Cady illustrations and the full text are present and intact.

  • The book is free of personalized inscriptions, enhancing its overall cleanliness.

• Imperfections:

  • The spine shows sunning and minor rubbing, with light fraying to the cloth at the ends.

  • The boards and corners exhibit general light shelf wear.

  • The pages are age-toned and yellowed, typical of the paper stock used in 1915.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The book is the fifth volume in the original Mother West Wind Series of stories.

• The title page verso contains the "BURGESS TRADE QUADDIE MARK", a key visual marker for collectors of the complete series.

• The stories in this book are primarily told by Grandfather Frog, who sits by the Smiling Pool, and Old Mother West Wind, who lives on the Purple Hills.

• The illustrations often depict the Green Forest animals wearing human clothing, a key element of Cady's anthropomorphic style that made the characters instantly beloved by children.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Mother West Wind “Why” Stories

• Author: Thornton W. Burgess

• Illustrator: Harrison Cady

• Year of Publication: 1915 (Copyright Date)

• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers (By arrangement with Little, Brown, and Company)

• Place of Origin: New York, Printed in USA

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, Blue Pictorial Cloth Boards

• Edition: Reprint Printing (Copyright 1915)

• Rarity: Common Edition

• Verbatim Transcription of Inscription/Marking: None.