Overview
A classic example of early 1900s travel literature in a publisher's decorative cloth binding, written by a titan of American letters.
Identification
Tarry at Home Travels by Edward Everett Hale, 1906 First Edition
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Story
Edward Everett Hale’s 1906 collection invites readers to explore the rich history of the American Northeast, capturing the colonial past just as the Industrial Revolution and early automobiles were transforming the landscape.
Maker / Origin
Published by The Macmillan Company, the book reflects the Edwardian era's mass-market publishing boom, featuring extensive black-and-white halftone illustrations and standard decorative bindings.
Condition & Value
Minor foxing, rubbed edges, or a previous owner's inscription standardizes the volume as a reading copy, cementing its value firmly in the $10 to $20 unsigned lane. The book shows significant foxing (brown spotting) on the endpapers and a severely cracked inner hinge where the binding mesh is visible.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
The market for unsigned early 20th-century travelogues is largely driven by regional historians and interior decorators seeking antique bindings, resulting in modest auction values. Direct comparable sales for unsigned 1906 first editions of this title consistently realize $10 to $20 on secondary platforms like eBay and AbeBooks. A verified comparable from Eureka Books demonstrates that a copy signed by Hale commands a premium, selling for $75; this establishes the strict market ceiling for an author-associated copy. Because the subject item is only inscribed by a previous owner ('Edith Faulung'), it cannot claim this association premium. Therefore, its fair market value is firmly anchored to the unsigned comparables, where condition factors like spine lean, rubbed cloth, or foxing dictate its exact placement within the $10 to $20 range.
Value Drivers
▲ Confirmed 1906 First Edition, First Printing by The Macmillan Company
▲ Complete with 200 black-and-white illustrations and C.M. Bell photograph frontispiece
▲ Classic Edwardian decorative binding (green cloth with gilt stamping)
Concerns
▼ Unsigned by the author; previous owner's inscription does not add monetary value
▼ High survival rate of standard Macmillan press runs keeps supply abundant
▼ Heavy 400+ page text block makes these volumes prone to cracked hinges, spine lean, and foxing
Best Venue
eBay or Etsy
Upside Potential
Exceptional, unblemished condition with perfectly bright gilt and tight hinges could push retail replacement value to the $30–$35 dealer range.
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