[#ditto] Here’s one for anybody who might know. I have access to a hardback book published by AC Kalmbach copyright Dec of 1934, which contains all the fist issues of Model Railroader from Jan 1934 through to Dec of same year. It contains all the volume 1, #'s 1-12. I’m not sure if this was something that was issued to subscribers in that first year, or if it was something obtainable at a later date. As I stated before, it has a copyright date of Dec 1934. Does anybody have any idea how much this book might be worth? It’s in excellent condition. I also have access to a book that’s called “The Catechism of the Steam Locomotive” written by Matthias Forney and published in 1890, also in excellent condition.
Any info on either of these or where I might be able to find out the value would be greatly appreciated. The owner of said books has some other interesting stuff, (ie… a Pacific Fastmail Sound System, still in box) that he would like to sell and was hoping I could find out some values.
Joe - Odds are that the Model Railroader volume is a reprint and not an original. Only a very small number of bound sets of volume #1 were made and they are exceedingly rare today. However, reprints of volume #1 were offered several times by Kalmbach in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. These are plentiful and fairly commonly seen today. As such, they aren’t particularly valuable. Some of these had a little stamp on the inside cover clearly stating that they were indeed reprints. Others did not. I have example copies of both such editions.
The way to tell if you have a true original volume #1 is to examine the train logo at the top of the covers for the issues (if I recall correctly) April 1934 onward. The background logo, behind the Model Railroader title, was done in a different solid color each month. The reprints only have the cover logo done in B/W for the entire year. A quick check will give you a positive ID as to whether what you have is original or simply a reprint.
Yea when the hobby caught on strong in the 40’s and 50’s, reprints were made avalible to get the info and tips on the hobby out there. Who knows, though, you might have the original.