Identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
Definitively identified via title and copyright pages as the 1937 edition published by Allyn and Bacon. The extensive student annotations and inserted slips referencing New Deal legislation (e. g., the Wagner Act) add unique ephemera value to this reading copy.
Story
Frank Abbott Magruder's 'American Government' was a standard, widely used civics textbook in American high schools for decades. This specific 1937 edition places it squarely in the middle of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal era, making the contemporary student annotations a fascinating primary source of how these sweeping political changes were taught and understood at the time. The market for standard mid-century high school textbooks is generally weak, driven mostly by nostalgia or specific reference needs.
Maker / Origin
Allyn and Bacon
Condition & Value
The value of this item is paradoxically enhanced by what would normally be considered condition flaws in the book market—the extensive writing and inserted slips.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The market for standard mid-century high school textbooks is generally weak, driven mostly by nostalgia or specific reference needs. However, the market for unique historical ephemera, particularly primary source material from significant eras like the Great Depression and the New Deal, has a dedicated following among historians, educators, and specialized collectors. Buyers in this niche value the contemporary, on-the-ground perspective provided by student notes and inserted materials.
▲ Extensive contemporary student annotations regarding New Deal policies transform a common textbook into unique historical ephemera.
▲ Presence of inserted paper slips detailing 1930s political structures adds significant primary-source value.
▲ Definitive 1937 publication date perfectly aligns with the height of the Great Depression and New Deal legislation.
▼ Unverified student identity — lacking a name or location limits the provenance and regional historical context.
▼ Unverified total quantity and condition of the inserted slips — missing or heavily damaged slips would reduce the ephemera premium.
Best Venue
List this item on a platform with a strong ephemera and historical documents collector base, such as eBay, using keywords that highlight the 'New Deal' and 'Great Depression' era ephemera rather than just the textbook title. A fixed-price listing around $50-$60 with a 'Best Offer' option allows room for negotiation with specialized collectors. Ensure all inserted slips are carefully photographed and described in the listing.
Upside Potential
If the student annotations can be linked to a specific, identifiable individual who later became notable, or if the notes provide exceptionally detailed, localized insights into specific New Deal programs (like the WPA or CCC) rather than just rote copying, the value could exceed $100 to a specialized historian or institutional archive.
Also found — market-range context
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.