The Yearling
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
📚 Genre
Historical Fiction / Young Adult Classic
🏢 Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
📅 Publication Year
Circa 1939-1945 (Original publication 1938)
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-dates ISBN system; known reprint identifiers relate to publisher stock codes)
About This Book
Set in rural Florida in the 1870s, the story follows young Jody Baxter and his pet fawn, Flag. The narrative explores themes of coming-of-age, the harsh realities of frontier life, and the inevitable transition from childhood innocence to adult responsibility. The title page features a woodcut-style decoration by Edward Shenton depicting a boy holding a fawn in front of a cabin.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
Approximately 428 pages
Edition
Hardcover Reprint (Grosset & Dunlap Popular Edition)
Series
Standalone novel
Target Audience
Young Adult / General Adult Audience
Collector Information
Condition
Good to Very Good. The paper shows significant yellowing/toning due to age (oxidation of wood pulp paper), which is typical for mid-century Grosset & Dunlap reprints. No visible tears or major staining on this page.
Estimated Value
$10-$25
Rarity
Common. Grosset & Dunlap was a mass-market reprint house that produced thousands of copies of popular titles. While old, this is not the scarce 1938 Scribner first edition.
Historical Significance
The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1939. It is considered a masterpiece of regional Florida literature and was adapted into a famous 1946 film starring Gregory Peck.
Collector Notes
For this particular edition, value is driven almost entirely by the presence and condition of the dust jacket. Collectors of Rawlings generally seek the Charles Scribner's Sons first edition (with the 'A' on the copyright page). To preserve this copy, keep it away from direct sunlight and high humidity to prevent further acidification and 'browning' of the pages. This is a lovely 'reading copy' rather than a high-stakes investment piece.
Similar Books
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, Shane by Jack Schaefer, My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
Notable Features
Features the original interior decorations by Edward Shenton; published by Grosset & Dunlap, a publisher known for affordable 'photoplay' and popular reprints of the era.