Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
This is an early hardcover edition of Virginia Lee Burton's beloved children's classic, 'Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel', first published in 1939. Featuring the iconic pictorial cloth cover, this copy is identified as a 23rd printing, preserving the vibrant, dynamic illustrations that have captivated generations of readers.
Story
Published in 1939, this book was born when author Virginia Lee Burton paid her sons about $0.05 a day to critique her sketches. Her youngest son suggested the famous ending where Mary Anne the steam shovel becomes a cellar furnace.
Maker / Origin
Virginia Lee Burton was a Renaissance woman—an illustrator, author, dancer, and founder of the Folly Cove Designers textile collective. She was a pioneer in children's literature, using rhythmic text and meticulously designed page layouts where the illustrations and words danced together to create a sense of movement.
Condition & Value
The pictorial cloth cover shows light edge wear, minor corner bumping, and gentle overall toning consistent with age. The interior pages appear clean and intact, though a full inspection is needed to rule out typical children's scribbles or torn pages. The absence of the original dust jacket reduces the potential value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.