 |
| Childhood Bible Stories: The Good News Series 5 Book 1 Standard Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, ca. 1918 |
Standard Publishing Company
Cincinnati, Ohio
by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.
Standard Publishing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio,
published a Childhood Bibles Stories series in the early part of the twentieth
century. Each number in the series
included a set of four saddle-stitched (stapled) books with paper covers, the
copies being really more of a pamphlet type than book. The covers with Art Nouveau border embellishments demonstrate the Bible story artwork contained within the book.
The Bookseller: Newsdealer and Stationer, Volume 49,
July 1 1918, (google books) offers the following information:
"The
Standard Publishing Company, Cincinnati, has an attractive Series of four books
in Childhood Bible Stories that will make a general appeal not only as a
Holiday but an all year round seller, and their reasonable price places them
within the reach of everyone. The gaily
decorated covers in four colors and full page illustrations, also in four
colors, make the little 16 mos. Very appealing to nursery Bible students and
the famous stories are told briefly and simply. The books in Series Four are Prayer and
Praise, Helper and Friend, Doing His Work, and Learning His Will. Each 18 cents."
An ad in The Publisher’s Weekly, Volume 94.
September 18, 1918, states that the series is “The only series of Graded Bible
Story Books published. Series 3 published last year…intended for children about
seven years of age.” Thus the third
series was published in 1917.
 |
| Childhood Bibles Stories, Series 4 Ad in The Publisher'sWeekly, Volume 94, September 18, 1918 Source: Google Books |
Series 3 books were 15 cents each, series four 18
cents, and series five 22 cents. The
increase in price may have been due only to size: series 4 books measured 7 x
5.75 inches (18 cm), while series 5 books were 7.75 x 6.5 inches (20 cm). I don’t have in my possession books from
series one through three.
Editions, Printings, Contents
What is unknown to me is how many printings the
series went through, though it is likely there were additional printings.
Series one and two are not as available for purchase on the internet and
the ones that are being offered are listed only under the series name of Child
Bible Stories and book number with no specific book titles.
Series Three
Book 1
Creator and Saviour
Book 2
Protector and Guide
Book 3 God’s
House and Worship
Book 4
Prophet and King
 |
| Childhood Bible Stories: Learning His Will Series 4 Book 4 The Standard Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, ca. 1918 |
Series Four (from book back cover)
This booklet is one of four volumes in the Fourth
Series of Childhood Bible Stories, which for years have been the sensation in
American literature for children. This
series is titles as follows: |
| Back Cover: Learning His Will |
Book 1
Prayer and Praise
Book 2
Helper and Friend
Book 3
Doing His Work
Book 4
Learning His Will
Each book is embellished with twelve colored
illustrations, of an excellent hitherto unknown in this class of juveniles.
Series Five (back cover contains same summary information)
Series Five (back cover contains same summary information)
Book 1 The
Good News
Book 2 Good
Will to Men
Book 3
Christian Heroes
Book 4
Daring to Do Right
The stories are short, no more than two pages in
length. As an example of the contents in
each book, the titles in Series 4, Book 4 under the heading “Learning His Will”
are Moses, the Prince and Shepherd; Moses Leading the Israelites Out of Egypt;
The Story of the Manna; The Giving of the Law; The Two Brave Spies; Joshua
Leading Israelites Into Promised Land; The House in Which I Live; God’s Gifts
for Foods; The Story of the Rechabites; God’s Creatures of the Field; The Great
Wide Sea; Day and Night; and Seed Time and Harvest.
Bibles stories contained in these vintage collectible copies are great for use today, nearly 100 years since their initial publication. Collectors of Christian Juvenile Literature and even more specifically Bible Stories may wish to make a collection of all 20 books in the five series.
Collecting children's books can be a challenging task if the collector is looking for mint condition. Books for children were most often used and used well, not read once and set on a shelf for posterity. The Childhood Bible Series is collectible for the biblical art, the stories, as well as for the period artwork on the covers.
One copy of each of the following books is available for purchase at QualityMusicandBooks.com.
2 comments:
I have the Protector and Guide from Series 3. It was my Dad's book from childhood. Was wondering if it is worth anything. it is in almost perfect condition.
Yes, your copy is worth something. Ultimately, however, any vintage or antiquarian book is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. I suggest searching through google, Ebay, and Abebooks to discover what sellers are asking for books in this series. You could also take the book to an antiquarian book dealer in your area and ask for an estimated retail value.
Post a Comment