Hans Brinker, Or, The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge, Illustrated by Allen B. Doggett, 1925

Dodge, Mary Mapes. Hans Brinker, Or, The Silver Skates. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. Illustrated by Allen B. Doggett. Octavo. In publisher’s original illustrated dust jacket and red hardcover boards, titled in black on the front and spine.

Presented is a 1925 edition of Hans Brinker, Or, The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge, a charming later printing of the American children’s classic that first appeared in 1865. This book was published in New York by Charles Scribner’s Sons and is distinguished by its illustrations by Allen B. Doggett. It is presented with its original illustrated dust jacket and red hardcover boards, titled in black on the front and spine. 

Hans Brinker, Or, The Silver Skates was an immediate success on first publication in 1865,  “by 1870 had sold 300,000 copies,” and has remained continuously in print (Melcher, 341). The story follows the Brinker family, living in straitened circumstances along the Dutch canals. Young Hans and his sister Gretel strive to help their ailing and invalid father. Their perseverance, upright character, and resourcefulness ultimately carry them through a series of trials that culminate in the town's skating race for the silver skates. Interwoven throughout the story are local tales, including the famous story of a Dutch boy who saves his city by plugging a hole in a leaky dike with his finger, as well as sketches of Dutch customs and history. A blend of moral narrative, Dutch travelogue, and adventure story, the book helped popularize the romanticized vision of Dutch winter life for generations of American readers.

Dodge had never been to Holland, but her book “was inspired by John Lothrop Motley's famous volumes The Rise of the Dutch Republic, and all of her knowledge of Holland came from what she had read. What a special genius she had, and what a conception of a writer's function, that she should, in this one story, have molded an affectionate understanding of another country for four generations of young Americans” (Melcher, 341). The book an award from the French Academy and brought Dodge lasting popular attention.

Mary Mapes Dodge (1831–1905) was an influential American editor and author of children’s literature. Best known for this novel, she also served as the founding editor of St. Nicholas Magazine, which became one of the foremost juvenile periodicals of its era and published early work by such writers as Louisa May Alcott, Rudyard Kipling, and Mark Twain. Frances Hodgson Burnett serialized her first major success, Little Lord Fauntleroy, in the magazine.

CONDITION:

Very good condition. Original publisher red hardcover boards, with black embossed titles to front board and spine. Scratches, nicks, and stains on boards. Bumping to spine. Inked Birthday gift note, dated October 16, 1926, to front free end paper. Previous owner’s name to top of front free endpaper, in different hand. Interior paper is clean, without tears, stains, or marks. Very light toning to paper. Full color frontispiece, numerous black and white illustrations. 

Illustrated dust jacket, in good condition. Chipping along top and bottom, loss to top and bottom of spine. Toning and water stains. Clipped interior panel corners but original $1.00 price still intact. Wrapped in mylar. 

Book Dimensions: 7 5/8” H x 5 3/8” W x 1 6/8” D. 

REF:

Melcher, Frederic G. The Georgia Review 11, no. 3 (1957): 341–43.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.