Antique Elsie Dinsmore by Martha Finley Hardcover Book. Measures 6 1/4" by 4 1/2". Published by Dodd, Mead and Company. 342 pages. Good condition, shows age and wear. Has writing on the inside cover.
Originally published in 1867, this specific edition of Elsie Dinsmore was released by Dodd, Mead and Company, the primary long-term publisher of the series. The 342-page volume follows the moral and spiritual journey of motherless eight-year-old Elsie as she navigates her religious convictions and her relationship with her father on an 18th-century Southern plantation. This story became a massive cultural phenomenon, selling millions of copies and becoming the longest-running girls' book series of the 19th century.
The book measures 6 1/4 inches by 4 1/2 inches and features a charming sky-blue cloth binding with white stamped floral accents and a petite central portrait medallion. Unlike many later reprints, these early Dodd Mead editions are prized for their period-appropriate decorative covers and historical significance in the evolution of Christian fiction for children. While this copy shows the authentic patina of age and has a previous owner's inscription on the inside cover, it remains a sturdy and evocative collectible for bibliophiles of Victorian-era literature.
This book is antique, over 100 years old. While it appears to be in good condition, there is the possibility I may have missed a minor detail. In the unlikely event I missed a major flaw, I would reach out prior to sending it.
