Old History Book

[Mags22]

Not sure if anyone can be of help - but I have a child's history book, printed by Blackie & Son ltd., called A Second Book of Stories from History.Sadly there is no date of issue as in modern books - I was given it 68 years ago, and it was well thumbed then - I'd like to know how old it is and its value - not that I'd ever part with it, as it was avidly read by myself, my children, and my granddaughter.

[Buenchico]

With just a few exceptions, old books are generally without any significant value. Most charity shops would probably bin it, while Oxfam would try to get a few pounds for it as a collector's item. I doubt that many secondhand book dealers would be interested in it at all.

Your book is a bit of a mystery though because (even the law requires that a copy of every book published in the UK is lodged with the British Library) it's not in the British Library catalogue. THe only book published by Blackie which includes the words 'stories from history' is "Golden Deeds: Stories from History - Retold for Little Folk.". The publication date is given as 'circa 1920'. My guess is that the book you've got was a successor to that title (which Blackie omitted to lodge with the British Library), so it was probably published in the early 1920s.

Chris

[Mags22]

Yes,Buenchico, I'd guess it could have been published in the 1920s, as it could have belonged to the donor . I cherish it anyway, no matter if it is worthless, its a wee treasure to me

[atalanta]

Could it be a US publication ? It does not appear in the Bodleian catalogue, either. It would help in a search if the book had an author, or if somewhere in it you could find a place of publication. There may be a publisher's note at the end of the book, if not on the back of the title page.
However, I suspect that this may be one item in a big print-run of an educational title intended as donations from one government to the schools of another country - intended as gift aid of some sort.

[heathfield]

The book appears to be one of a series of books produced by Blackie called 'The Complete History Readers'. Three of these are listed on the Abebooks website. The sellers description would normally mention publishing dates, so, as in your copy, these must be missing. Value? £4 to £7.64 in fair to good condition.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?bt.x=69&bt.y=10&kn=blackie&sts=t&tn=the+complete+history+readers