IDAHO: A GUIDE IN WORD AND PICTURE; [the elusive first book to be published in the Federal Writers' Project (FWP) American Guide Series].
Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1937. First edition. Published in January, 1937, this first volume in the American Guide Series was a resounding success, selling over 1800 copies in the first few months alone (Penkower, p. 127). Vardis Fisher was appointed state director to oversee the creation of the Idaho guide and, although his name was omitted from the title page of this first printing, he worked "twelve- to fourteen-hour days, seven days a week, logging all the roads of Idaho in a new 1936 Nash" writing "nearly all the copy" for the guide (Penkower, p. 40). Small 4to (or large 8vo) dark green cloth boards stamped in gilt on spine and gilt and medium green on front; pale green endpapers with state seal on pastedowns; frontispiece photo (reproduction) of state flag; profusely illustrated with full-plate images reproducing photographs of portraits and state scenery as well as maps, including several folded; 431 pages, including index. About very good with spine shaken and slightly slumped, rubbing to spine ends and corners, rear cover and small area of front cover subtly rubbed, and few tiny stains to page edges. [Howes F-158]. Lacking the exceedingly scarce original dust jacket but with facsimile one provided.
Item #72757
Price: $600.00