Title: Vintage 1938 Edition of The Earth Before Man by Raymond E. Janssen - University of Knowledge Series
Item Overview:
Up for sale is a compelling piece of mid-century educational history: a 1938 vintage hardcover copy of The Earth Before Man: The Story of How Things Began, authored by Raymond E. Janssen and compiled under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Glenn Frank. Published by the University of Knowledge, Incorporated in Chicago, this volume serves as a core installment within their celebrated "Wonder Books" encyclopedia library. The book features beautifully dramatic, full-bleed graphic woodcut-style illustrated endpapers depicting prehistoric and industrial history. The front board is adorned with a textured deep blue cloth binding highlighted by a gold gilt-stamped ship emblem. A fascinating vintage reading copy for historians of science, geology buffs, or collectors of pre-war educational reference sets.
Detailed Condition Notes:
- Binding & Hinges: The internal binding hinge is significantly split down the center fabric seam, leaving the mesh backing exposed between the front and back sections of the graphic endpapers. The text block itself remains anchored, but the hinge is fragile.
- Cover & Spine: The deep blue cloth boards display corner bumping with exposed board fibers, along with visible edge fraying. The front cover exhibits a few noticeable white liquid scuffs and water drop spots near the upper edge block. The spine shows uniform rubbing with softening at the head and foot caps. The gold gilt cover stamp shows moderate vintage oxidation but stays clearly visible.
- Pages & Edges: The paper text block exhibits heavy, uniform browning and dark age-toning along the top, bottom, and side exterior margins. The inner page sheets are flat, intact, and remain free of modern handwriting, ink stains, or stamps.
Please inspect all photographs carefully as they serve as the primary visual description of the book's condition.