A History of the Modern World
R.R. Palmer and Joel Colton
📚 Genre
Non-Fiction - World History
🏢 Publisher
Alfred A. Knopf / McGraw-Hill
📅 Publication Year
1950
🔢 ISBN
9780070481488
About This Book
A comprehensive scholarly overview of modern world history starting from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century, widely used as a standard college textbook. The book features a teal-green clothbound hardcover with gold foil stamped typography and a decorative publisher device on the front board.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
900
Edition
First Edition Hardcover
Series
Standalone academic textbook
Target Audience
Academic and General Adult Audience
Collector Information
Condition
Good. The book shows minor rubbing at the corners and edges of the green cloth cover, with intact spine and clean gold stamping, though minor fading and shelf wear are present.
Estimated Value
$15-$40
Rarity
Common. While first editions from 1950 have some collector interest, millions of copies of various editions of this textbook were printed, making individual copies generally easy to find.
Historical Significance
R.R. Palmer's A History of the Modern World has been one of the most widely read and influential college-level European and world history textbooks for decades, shaping how generations of students understand the development of modern political, social, and economic systems.
Collector Notes
For collectors, finding an early edition with an intact original dust jacket is the key driver of value, as most copies were heavily used in academic settings. Store in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight to preserve the cloth binding and gold stamping.
Similar Books
The Ascent of Man by Jacob Bronowski, Civilization: The West and the Rest by Niall Ferguson, Europe: A History by Norman Davies, The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant
Notable Features
First edition copy of an influential historical text, featuring classic mid-century publisher cloth binding and gold embossing.