Saint Maria Goretti
Marie Cecilia Buehrle
📚 Genre
Biography / Hagiography (Religious Non-Fiction)
🏢 Publisher
The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee
📅 Publication Year
1950 (Original publication year)
🔢 ISBN
Information not available for this period (pre-ISBN era)
About This Book
A biographical account of Maria Goretti (1890–1902), an Italian virgin-martyr of the Catholic Church. The book details her life of poverty in rural Italy, the attempted sexual assault by Alessandro Serenelli, her subsequent murder, and her eventual canonization. It focuses on themes of purity, forgiveness, and Christian virtue. The title page shown features classic mid-century serif typography and a simple layout typical of Catholic publishers of that era.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
Approximately 164 pages
Edition
Early Hardcover Edition
Series
Not part of a series
Target Audience
Adult/General Audience (specifically Catholic readership)
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good. Visible foxing (brown spotting) is present across the title page, particularly on the right margin. Significant tanning/yellowing of the paper edges is visible, which is common for paper stock from the 1950s.
Estimated Value
$10 - $25 USD
Rarity
Common. This was a mass-produced title by a major Catholic publisher during a period of high demand. Copies are widely available in the secondary market.
Historical Significance
This was one of the primary English-language biographies produced in the United States to coincide with her canonization by Pope Pius XII. It played a major role in domesticating the cult of Maria Goretti for American Catholics in the mid-20th century.
Collector Notes
Value is heavily dependent on the presence of the original dust jacket, which is missing in this view. Common condition issues for this title include acidified paper and spine fading if the jacket is lost. As hagiographies from this era are currently in low demand among general collectors but steady among religious enthusiasts, it is unlikely to appreciate significantly. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent further foxing and acidic degradation of the paper.
Similar Books
The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; Saint Bernadette Soubirous by François Trochu; Saint Gianna Beretta Molla by Pietro Molla; The Little Flowers of Saint Francis.
Notable Features
Includes a frontispiece (partially visible on the left) which usually features a portrait of the saint. Published shortly after Maria Goretti's canonization in June 1950.