Identification

1951 Edition of "The Young Visiters" by Daisy Ashford, Illustrated by William Pène du Bois

Photo reference

5 uploaded photos

Overview

The title page explicitly identifies the publisher as Doubleday & Company, Inc. and the year of publication as 1951. The copyright page confirms the 1951 copyright for William Pène du Bois's illustrations.

Story

Written by Daisy Ashford at age nine in the late 19th century, the manuscript was famously championed by Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie. This 1951 Doubleday edition revitalized the text with illustrations by Newbery Medalist William Pène du Bois, making it a distinct and collectible mid-century iteration of the classic. The market for mid-20th-century illustrated children's literature is steady but niche, driven primarily by nostalgia and illustrator collectors.

Maker / Origin

Doubleday & Company, Inc.

Condition & Value

The visible portions of the unclipped dust jacket show minor edge wear but present well, importantly retaining the original $1. 75 price. The binding appears intact from the front.

Full Research

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The market for mid-20th-century illustrated children's literature is steady but niche, driven primarily by nostalgia and illustrator collectors. William Pène du Bois's involvement adds crossover appeal for illustration enthusiasts. In this category, copies retaining their original dust jackets move much faster and command a significant premium over bare hardcovers.

Value Drivers

Presence of the original, unclipped dust jacket with the $1. 75 price intact anchors the $30+ tier

Illustrations by celebrated artist William Pène du Bois provide crossover collector appeal

Inclusion of the famous J. M. Barrie preface adds literary historical interest

Concerns

Unverified dust jacket spine condition — chipping or severe sun-fading could drop the value toward the $20 floor

Best Venue

List on specialized book marketplaces like AbeBooks or eBay with clear photos of the dust jacket spine, back cover, and copyright page. Price around $35-$40 for a steady sale, ensuring the unclipped dust jacket and William Pène du Bois illustrations are highlighted in the title.

Upside Potential

If the dust jacket spine is pristine and the interior is immaculate without any previous owner markings, the book could appeal to a specialized dealer or condition-sensitive collector and push toward the $50-$75 retail tier.