Home All Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton | 1939 First Edition, Early Issue with Original Dust Jacket
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the dust jacket's front cover sitting on a textured tabletop
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the dust jacket's spine
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the dust jacket's back cover
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the front cover
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the inside cover - please note there is a school stamp as well as "1st" written in ink directly below the school stamp.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the title page
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the copyright and dedication pages
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the copyright information closeup
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the illustrations in this book
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the acknowledgement included on page 39.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the dust jacket's inside flaps.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the small tears on the back cover of the dust jacket
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton-rare 1939 First Edition Early Printing--vintage children's picture book-view of the small tear on the back of the dust jacket's cover

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton | 1939 First Edition, Early Issue with Original Dust Jacket

$499.00

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A beautiful and unusually early 1939 issue of one of Virginia Lee Burton's most beloved picture books, complete with its original dust jacket.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel was first published by Houghton Mifflin in 1939 and quickly became a classic of American children's literature. This copy is an unusually early issue of the 1939 first edition, distinguished by several important bibliographical characteristics described below.

Please note: This is not the first issue of the first edition. Rather, it is an unusually early issue of the 1939 first edition.

Title:  Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Format:  Clothbound Hardcover with Dust Jacket
Author:  Virginia Lee Burton
Illustrator:  Virginia Lee Burton
Copyright Year:  1939
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston
Length: 42 Pages
Dimensions: " wide by " tall

This is a collectible book intended for the collector of early children's literature; please review all photographs and condition details carefully before purchasing.

Condition:  Minor wear to the cloth boards and spine, particularly around the edges. The book is tightly bound with no damage noted to the hinges. No torn or missing pages noted. A page wrinkle or two is present. Aside from the ownership stamp noted below, the interior is exceptionally clean.

There is a stamp on the inside cover with “1st” written in ink directly below the stamp. No other writing or stamps noted.

The original dust jacket shows wear, particularly along the edges and spine, which includes chips and tears. The inside front flap has been price-clipped.

Please examine the photographs carefully, as they are considered part of the condition description.

A special note for collectors

Early copies of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel can be confusing because several early issues and printings share characteristics, and descriptions from booksellers are not always consistent. For that reason, we have included detailed photographs and bibliographical information so collectors can compare the physical characteristics of this copy for themselves.

This is a wonderful opportunity to own an original 1939 copy of Virginia Lee Burton's classic Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, with its scarce original dust jacket.

Bibliographical Points of Identification:

The following characteristics are present in this copy:

  • Copyright page: 1939 is the only date shown, with no later dates or printing statements.
  • Title page: The 1939 date does not appear on the title page. This is one of the characteristics distinguishing this issue from the first issue.
  • Publisher's boards: The book has the salmon-colored boards associated with this early issue, rather than the gray boards found on other early copies.
  • Page 39: The acknowledgment to Dickie Birkenbush appears at the bottom of the page.
  • Dust jacket, rear flap: The Choo-Choo advertisement appears on the rear flap.
  • Dust jacket, front flap: The jacket references Millions of Cats (1929) and The Story of Ferdinand (1936).
  • Dust jacket spine: “H.M. Co.” appears at the bottom of the spine.

Early copies of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel can be confusing because several early issues and printings share characteristics, and bibliographical descriptions can vary among sources. For that reason, we have included detailed photographs and the bibliographical points above so collectors can compare the physical characteristics of this copy for themselves.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have and to provide any additional photographs you may require. Thank you for your consideration. 

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