The Treasure of Pleasant Valley
Frank Yerby
📚 Genre
Historical Fiction / Western / Adventure
🏢 Publisher
The Dial Press, New York
📅 Publication Year
1955
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-dates ISBN system; LCCN: 55-9164)
About This Book
Set during the California Gold Rush of 1849, the novel follows Bruce Harkness and Joab Masters as they seek their fortunes. Unlike many gold-rush stories, Yerby focuses on the internal conflicts and the pursuit of agricultural land in the Central Valley as the true 'treasure' versus the destructive greed of the mining camps. The title page shown features a clean, classic serif typeface with the Dial Press griffin logo.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
348 pages
Edition
Likely First Edition, Hardcover (Trade Edition)
Series
Standalone novel
Target Audience
Adult (General Fiction)
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good. Visible foxing and heavy browning on the page edges (tanning). The binding appears intact but the pages exhibit significant oxidative aging.
Estimated Value
$10 - $25
Rarity
Common. Yerby was a prolific and high-volume author during the 1950s. While first editions in pristine condition with dust jackets carry more value, the bare volume in this condition is widely available.
Historical Significance
Frank Yerby was a pioneer for Black commercial writers in the mid-20th century. While he was often criticized by contemporaries for not writing explicitly about racial issues, his success in the white-dominated landscape of pulp and historical fiction was a significant cultural milestone.
Collector Notes
Collectibility is heavily dependent on the presence and condition of the dust jacket. This copy shows significant tanning/acidification of the paper, which can be slowed by storing in a cool, dry, acid-free environment. For Frank Yerby enthusiasts, look for the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page to confirm the edition.
Similar Books
The Foxes of Harrow by Frank Yerby, Sacramento Gold by Mark Thomas, The Way West by A.B. Guthrie Jr., Gold by Stewart Edward White
Notable Features
Includes the Dial Press publisher's device (a griffin/lion within a crest). Frank Yerby was the first African American author to write a best-seller and to have a book purchased for a Hollywood film adaptation.