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The Egg and I, by Betty MacDonald, (RARE, First Edition), 1945 📜🇺🇸🐓

Name: The Egg and I, by Betty MacDonald, (RARE, First Edition), 1945 📜🇺🇸🐓
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 75.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$75.00

Sale Sold out

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare First Edition of The Egg and I, the classic humorous memoir by Betty MacDonald.

Published in 1945 by J. B. Lippincott Company, this volume is a tangible piece of literary history from an author whose witty and self-deprecating style resonated with millions of readers and launched a cultural phenomenon.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

The Egg and I is a humorous memoir by Betty MacDonald that recounts her experiences as a young city woman who moves with her husband to a remote chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. The book chronicles her struggles to adapt to the challenges of rural life, including dealing with dilapidated housing, demanding neighbors, and the often-comical realities of raising chickens.

MacDonald's witty and self-deprecating narrative captures the culture shock and the unexpected joys of her unconventional existence. The book offers a lighthearted and entertaining look at the clash between urban and rural lifestyles.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨ Betty MacDonald (1907-1958) was an American author, best known for her humorous memoirs that chronicled her personal experiences. Her achievements include writing The Egg and I, which became a bestseller and was adapted into a successful film series.

MacDonald's writing style was characterized by its wit, its observational humor, and its ability to find the funny side of everyday situations. Her books resonated with readers for their relatable stories and their ability to provide a lighthearted escape from the stresses of daily life.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1945, this book was released at a key moment in American history, as World War II was coming to a close. The book's lighthearted and humorous content provided a welcome escape for readers who had endured years of hardship. Its immediate success reflected a public appetite for entertaining and relatable stories that celebrated resilience and the quirky charm of American life.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This 1945 First Edition of The Egg and I is a core acquisition for a collector building a focused library on mid-20th-century American literature and pop culture history. It is a perfect fit for a literary historian who appreciates the intersection of a popular memoir with the broader cultural trends of the post-WWII era.

As a First Edition of a book that became a cultural touchstone and was adapted into a popular film series, it holds a significant place in literary history.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1945 First Edition of The Egg and I is a genuinely scarce asset.

The book is 80 years old, having survived decades of history. Its value is driven by its market scarcity, its historical importance, and its status as a first edition.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ This book is a used hardcover edition with a red cloth binding and a pictorial design.

Binding: The binding shows signs of wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and minor discoloration.
Pages: The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.
Inscriptions: There are no personal inscriptions or markings.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

The book was a bestseller and was adapted into a popular film starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray in 1947.
The characters of the Kettle family in the movie adaptation were so popular they inspired a long-running series of their own films.
Betty MacDonald wrote a series of humorous memoirs, including Anybody Can Do Anything and The Plague and I.
The book's immense success reflected a public appetite for entertaining and relatable stories that celebrated resilience and the quirky charm of American life.