First Edition Books in The Rivers of America Series
Arranged alphabetically by title.



 
Books in The Rivers of America Series


The Rivers of America Series stands as one of the most ambitious collecting adventures any publisher has undertaken, pairing celebrated writers and artists to capture the rivers that shaped the nation's history. Conceived by Constance Lindsay Skinner, the series began in 1937 with Kennebec by Robert P. Tristram Coffin and continued under three subsequent editors until 1974, when Margaret Sanborn's The American brought the series to a close after publishing 65 volumes. (Note: Collectors of this series prefer to say a total of 67 volumes because two volumes which were written to be included in the series were at the last moment not formally added by the publisher due to a none conforming size issue.)

Rather than commission historical texts, the series' editors sought out novelists and poets, aiming for literary, regional storytelling rather than dry historical record. That approach is a large part of why so many volumes remain in demand and continue to be reprinted today. For collectors, the series offers both a satisfying set to complete and a genuinely engaging read, river by river, region by region.

For an excellent overview of this series, we recommend Robert Gilbert's article in the September 1995 issue of Firsts Magazine.

© 2001 Town's End Books


If you wish to see a list of our less expensive reading copies and those titles without dust jackets please click here.

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    Waters, Frank:  The Colorado (National Travel Club Edition).  New York: National Travel Club, (1946). First Edition, Second Printing. Near fine in black cloth covered boards with gilt text and gilt borders on the spine and the gilt logo of the National Travel Club on the front board with blind embossed borders. A small octavo of 7 15/16 by 5 1/4 inches with minor light rubbing to the cloth at the corners of the spine and a date of "July 2, 1946" written in ink at the upper corner of the fly title page. In a very good-, unclipped (but not priced) dust jacket with two 1/2" deep chips at the upper corners of the spine area, small chips at the fore corners of the panels at the folds and soiling to the rear unprinted panel. Signed by the author, Frank Waters, on the fly title without an inscription or date. This is an interesting variant in The Rivers of America Series. It is actually a second printing of the title, but it is its first appearance as it was released in July of 1946 three months before the Rinehart publication. Rinehart's plates were used to create this printing which is why it carries the Rinehart circled R on the copyright page. (Fitzgerald, C11) 400 pages including an index, glossary, reference appendix and text. The illustrations are by Nicolai Fechin.
    TB29534  $150.00




  • Carmer, Carl:  The Hudson.  New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, (1962). First Edition, First printing. Good in blue cloth covered boards with a gilt on black title block on the spine which is faded and with the covers slightly soiled and with very faint foxing to the hinge areas of the ends sheets caused by a reaction with the glue used in binding. Missing its issued dust jacket. The 6th volume in the Rivers of America Series. With illustrations by Stow Wengenroth. 434 pages followed by the essay Rivers and American Folk by the founder of the series, Constance Lindsay Skinner.
    TB23255  $20.00



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    Morgan, Dale L.:  The Humboldt.  New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1943). First Edition, First Printing. Near fine in tan linen covered boards with a gilt on brown title block on the spine and decorated end papers. The cloth at the heel of the spine is slightly crimped inward and the cloth at the head of the spine is rubbed and very lightly worn and the cloth over the front, upper fore tip is worn through and week. In a very good unclipped dust jacket with two small chips from the upper end of the spine area, a 1/2 inch and one 1/4 inch chip from the lower edge of the spine area and three small chips at the upper edge of the front panel and heavy rubbing and small chips from the folds to the front and rear flaps. The 23rd volume in the Rivers of America series with illustrations by Arnold Blanch. 374 pages containing an index and bibliography. Despite the flaws to the book and its jacket, this copy is very clean and tight and lacks any prior ownership markings.
    TB34059  $75.00



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    Niles, Blair:  The James.  New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1939). First Edition, First Printing. Near fine in blue cloth covered boards with a bright gilt on black title block on the spine with illustrated end sheets. A small octavo of 8 by 5 3/8 inches with the cloth at the head and heel of the spine is slightly faded. In a very good+, unclipped dust jacket with two small, shallow chips at the upper edge of the spine area which is tanned, a long closed tear at the fold from the spine area to the front panel and a soiled rear panel. Signed and inscribed to "a new friend" by the author and dated in the year of publication. With illustrations by Edward Shenton. The fifth volume in The Rivers of America Series. 359 pages including an index which is followed by an essay by the originator and first editor of the series, Constance Lindsay Skinner.
    TB29597  $225.00



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    Niles, Blair:  The James.  New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1945). First Revised Edition, First Printing. Near fine in a reddish colored cloth covered boards with a gilt and charcoal gray title block on the spine. A small octavo of 8 inches by 5 1/4 inches. In a very good, price clipped dust jacket with two very small 1/4 inch chips from the upper corners of the spine area which is somewhat tanned and there are tiny chips from the fore corners of the front panel. Although originally published in 1939 as the 5th volume in the series this was the first revision of the book which made it 24 pages shorter and with all new illustrations by Edward Shenton who also illustrated the original version of the book. There are no prior ownership markings in this copy.
    TB34063  $90.00



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    Vestal, Stanley:  The Missouri.  New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1945). First Edition. Very near fine in light green cloth covered boards with a gilt on purple title block on the spine and decorated end papers. The top edge of the text block is slightly dust stained. In a very good, unclipped dust jacket with 3/4 inch deep chip from the upper edge of the rear panel and two 1/4 inch chips from the upper corners of the spine area which is very slightly faded. The 26th volume in The Rivers of America Series. 368 pages including an index, bibliography and chapter notes. Illustrated by Getlar Smith. The contents are clean, tight and free of any prior ownership markings.
    TB32966  $75.00



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    Hislop, Codman:  The Mohawk.  New York: Rinehart, (1948). First Edition, First Printing. Very near fine in red/orange cloth covered boards with a gilt on black title block on the spine. There is a small 1/2 inch dampness stain at the heel of the spine which does not impact the title block or the end sheets. The end sheets show very light and modest foxing. A small octavo of 8 by 5 1/4 inches. In a very good+ unclipped dust jacket with light wear and rubbing to the upper edge of the slightly tanned spine area. Signed and warmly inscribed by the illustrator on the first free end page and dated in the year of publication. With illustrations by Letterio Calapai. The 36th volume in the Rivers of America Series. 367 pages including an index and bibliography.
    TB32090  $90.00



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    Hislop, Codman:  The Mohawk.  New York: Rinehart, (1948). First Edition. Very good+ in red-orange cloth covered boards with a brown and gilt text block on the spine. The spine is tanned and the gilt text on the spine is somewhat faded. In a very good, unclipped dust jacket with 1/8 and 1/4 inch deep chips at the corners of the spine and with minor shallow chips at the upper edge of the front panel and tape stains on the flaps of the jacket. Signed and inscribed by the author on the first free end page. With illustrations by Letterio Calapai. The 36th volume in the Rivers of America Series. 366 pages including an index and bibliography.
    TB33233  $85.00




  • Hislop, Codman:  The Mohawk.  New York: Rinehart, (1948). First Edition, First printing. Fine in red/orange cloth covered boards. In a very good+ dust jacket with the price intact on the front flap, moderate tanning of the spine area and light wear at the ends of the spine area. With illustrations by Letterio Calapai. The 36th volume in the Rivers of America Series.
    TB11952  $52.50



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    Banta, R. E.:  The Ohio.  New York: Rinehart & Co., (1949). First Edition, First printing. Near fine in light gray cloth covered boards with a gilt on dark blue title block on the spine. A small octavo of 7 7/8 by 5 1/2 inches with a slight tanning of the cloth over the spine. In a very good+, price clipped, dust jacket with wear and rubbing at the upper and lower edges of the spine area which is also slightly tanned. With illustrations by Edward Shenton. The 39th volume in the Rivers of America Series. 592 pages containing an index and bibliography.
    TB33234  $60.00



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    Jahoda, Gloria:  River of the Golden Ibis.  New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, (1973). First Edition. Fine in decorated orange cloth covered boards with black and gilt text on the spine and on the front board with map end sheets. An octavo measuring 8 by 6 inches. In a very good+, unclipped dust jacket with a 1" long closed tear at the upper rear corner of the front panel. Originally scheduled to have been one of the volumes in the Rivers of America Series; however, the book was pulled from the series at the last moment as its content went beyond the normal parameters for the Rivers of America Series. Nonetheless, this book is considered an important addition to a complete Rivers collection. A very clean and highly collectible copy without any prior ownership markings of any kind. With illustrations by Ben F. Stahl, Jr. 408 pages including an index and bibliography.
    TB28611  $75.00



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    Masters, Edgar L.:  The Sangamon.  New York: Farrar & Rnehart, (1942). First Edition, First printing. Near fine in dark red cloth covered boards with a gilt on black title block on the spine and illustrated end sheets with the cloth at the corners of the head and heel of the spine rubbed. In a very good, price nclipped dust jacket with 1/4" deep chipping across the upper edge of the spine area, 1/8 chipping across the lower edge of the spine area and rubbing to the fold to the front flap with a 1/4 chip from the upper fore corner of the front panel. And then someone placed a 3-ring binder protector on the spine. We have not attempted to remove it yet. The 16th volume in the Rivers of America Series with illustrations by Lynd Ward. 258 pages including an index, text and drawings. A very clean copy with no prior ownership markings of an kind.
    TB34061  $150.00



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    Stokes, Thomas L.:  The Savannah.  New York: Rinehart, (1951). First Edition, First printing. Fine in blue-green cloth covered boards with a gilt on black title block on the spine. An octavo of 8 by 5 1/4 inches with a prior owner's book plate on the front paste down and a catalog number written at the upper right corner of the first free end page. In a very good, unclipped dust jacket with rubbing and wear to the colors at the ends of the spine area and to the fold to the front flap. The 43rd volume in The Rivers of America series. With illustrations by Lamar Dodd. 401 pages including an index, bibliography and text.
    TB31270  $60.00



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    Carmer, Carl:  Songs of the Rivers of America.  New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1942). First Edition. Very good+ in red cloth covered boards with black text and decorations on the spine and front board. A quarto measuring 12 by 9 inches with rubbing and light wear to the cloth at the heel of the spine and the upper inch of the spine is slightly faded. In a good, unclipped dust jacket with numerous closed tears, large and small chipping to the spine area and to the edges of the front and rear panels. Signed by the author on the fly title page with a date or an inscription. Although part of the Rivers of America series, this book is considerably larger than the format for the others in the series. It is also the most difficult to locate. 196 pages including indexes of both titles and first lines.
    TB29547  $350.00



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    Carmer, Carl:  Songs of the Rivers of America.  New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1942). First Edition. Very near fine in red cloth covered boards with black text and decorations on the spine and front board. A 4to measuring 12 by 8 3/4 inches with light rubbing to the cloth at the heel of the spine. In a very good-, price clipped dust jacket with a two inch deep chip at the upper edge of the spine area, heavy rubbing and wear to the folds and several smaller chips to the upper and lower edges of the rear panel. Despite the damage to the jacket this is still a collectable copy. Although part of the Rivers of America series, this book is considerably larger than the format for the others in the series. It is also the most difficult to locate. 196 pages of text and song scores together with an index.
    TB31520  $300.00



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    Mathews, Richard:  The Yukon.  New York: Holt Rinehart & Winston, (1968). First Edition. Fine in blue-green cloth covered boards with gilt text and a gilt title block on the spine. A small octavo measuring 8 by 5 3/8 inches with a stamped prior owner's name and address on the front paste down. In a very good+, price clipped dust jacket with several short closed tears to the upper edge f the spine area and flecking of the colors at the base of the spine area and the front panel. An extremely handsome and tight copy. The scarce 59th volume in The Rivers of America Series. With illustrations by Bryan Forsyth. 313 pages including an index.
    TB33880  $95.00






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