College on Horseback

Esther Greenacre Hall

Published by Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, New York, 1935

About this Item

Stated 'Fifth Printing, 1935'. On the title page the date 1933 is printed. That was the year of the first edition, they seem to have just left it on the later printings. I've rated the book only Good, though it has a lot going for it. The main issue that degrades the rating is the soiling on the margin of the front and rear cover. A Much lighter and a Much smaller amount of that soiling is present off the middle edge of the first 20 pages. The covers of the book, minus this soiling, are in quite solid condition, with very little wear. This includes the corners and the edges which show no wear at all. The color illustrated inside covers and end papers are in very good condition as well. After the first 20 pages, the pages are exceptionally clean. They are also in very good condition, though the last 30 pages have a mostly mild crease near to the top corner. No one has written their name or anything else anywhere in the book. And there aren't any markings or attachments. The book is also very solidly bound, although there is a space between the final two pages (318 & 319) and the webbing there is visible. However, that is the only place where that occurs, there is no issue between the covers and the end papers, and the pages are nicely tight throughout. I've rated the dust jacket only Fair which in book parlance is not a good thing. On the positive side, it is intact (a tear between the front cover and spine manages to go only two thirds of the way up) and this intactness should be sustainable with the fitted cover protecting it. I'm going to skip a detailed description of the jacket's condition. I'll just direct you to take a look at the photographs provided. One other positive point, the jacket is NOT price-clipped. There are nine full-page black-and-white illustrations, all of which are in very good condition. These illustrations are by Paul Brown was very highly regarded for his equine drawings. Margaret Van Doren is quoted on the front flap 'The author has the grandest facility in conversation I have ever come across in a young girls' book.' Below is included some information I came across with regard to the author and the book: 'Esther Greenacre Hall, American author of children's novels, mainly aimed at young adult females. She seems to have had early feminist tendencies as many of these novels were concerned with girls working or attempting to pursue careers, fairly unusual for the time. Two of these books were horse-related, again re-visiting the career plot, with the heroine studying at university in order to become a doctor. Holly Series: Short young adult series which is partly a college story and is about a girl who hopes to become a doctor but finds it hard to shake off the horsey ranch life she has grown up with. 1) COLLEGE ON HORSEBACK (SMITH & HAAS [USA] 1933) ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BROWN. Reprinted a number of times in hardback by the original publishers. Reprinted in hardback by Random House with no illustrations. Rare. SUMMARY: Ranch girl Holly finds it hard to adjust to college life, but things pick up when she decides to start giving riding lessons to the other girls there. 2) BACK TO BUCKEYE (SMITH & HAAS [USA] 1934) ILLUSTRATED BY LEE TOWNSEND SUMMARY: When an accident puts her brother out of commission, Holly gives up her summer school to return home to Buckeye Ranch and help out. Collector's Info: Back to Buckeye can be found fairly easily in the USA. College on Horseback however is a lot rarer and may be expensive. Neither book was published in the UK and both are extremely hard to find here.'. Seller Inventory # 001336

Bibliographic Details

Title: College on Horseback

Publisher: Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, New York

Publication Date: 1935

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Paul Brown

Condition: Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Fair