Rare Book Monthly
The Collaborative Project:How Much For The Oregon Trail ¡V
Page 1 of our search results shows earliest listings for Parkman's Oregon Trail.
Next the book comes up at the auction of the famed collection of Thomas Streeter in 1967. Two copies are sold, both in poor condition. One sells for $60, the other for $900. The difference? The $60 is the standard first edition, second printing, while the $900 appears to be one of those extremely rare first printings.
In 1988, we see one of those copies shown as printed in New York and London offered for $1,500 in Dorothy Sloan’s catalogue. Then, in 1990, at the H. Bradley Martin auction, an author inscribed copy from the second printing sells for $7,150 against an estimate of $2,000-$3,000. Parkman’s handwriting proves more valuable than anyone expected. In 2000 at the Laird Park auction the second printing with minor faults sells slightly above the high estimate at $2,040. Then, in 2003, the extremely rare and elusive first printing shows up at a PBA Galleries auction and sells well below its estimated $2,000-$3,000 price at $1,150. Sadly, while a “good” copy, this one has many problems, and so does our economy as compared to 2000. Still, considering that a first printing with problems sold for $900 back in 1967, the buyer appears to have made a good investment.
Now we have learned quite a bit about this book, and we can approach the “ABE” listings as a knowledgeable collector. And as noted earlier, there are five first editions up for sale. The first is a second printing in “good plus” condition, recased, offered by William Reese for $2,500. Perhaps a bit high when compared to the Laird Park auction, but in the ballpark. The next offering from G. S. MacManus is also a second printing, and it is described as in “very good” condition and is not recased, but the $5,000 price seems a bit high. Next is what appears to be a second printing from Almagre Books, perhaps not quite as good a copy, for $2,000, and a rebacked but otherwise condition not stated copy from Chapel Hill Rare Books for $1,650. Finally, there’s a second printing offered by Ziern-Hanon Galleries described as in “very good” condition for $7,500. This one comes with a two-page letter from Parkman, making the price consistent with the $7,150 for the inscribed copy sold at the Bradley Martin auction.
I have not yet made a purchase, so all of these copies may still be available to you. But who knows? One of these days I may get up the courage to take the plunge, and I’ll call up the Kenyon College Book Store and order that foxed 1968 “mass market paperback” copy that “is not falling apart at all” for $.01.
