New York: Dodd, Mead, 1945. dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - The fifth and final book in this popular. Set in 1944-1945 during World War II, this includes a preface by the author in which she talks about the restrictions placed on women journalists and how often these were circumvented. In this book, the career of her fictional character, Peggy Foster is based on those of real women journalists - Mrs Elizabeth May Craig, Sonia Tamara and Lee Carson, the only American woman war correspondent who crossed the Remagan Bridge. In 1911, the author, Emma Bugbee, was the first woman hired by the New York Herald as a reporter, and she worked there for 55 years. Her assignment was to cover a weeks-long march of suffragists from New York City to Albany. She was also a founder of the Newspaper Women's Club of New York, and one of just a "few prominent female reporters who sought to expand the role of women in the male-dominated world of journalism that existed when she began her career. She was best known for her intimate coverage of Eleanor Roosevelt, beginning in 1933 amidst the early days of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's terms of office and ending with a reminiscence of the former First Lady, written on the day of her death in 1962." An association copy INSCRIBED by Bugbee to "Bess herself with love" ("Bess" was probably noted reporter Bess Furman Armstong who covered the White House during 5 administrations and was, like Bugbee, close to Eleanor Roosevelt) and SIGNED "Peggy May Emma" ("May" refers to Elizabeth May Craig, the journalist whose activities were paralleled by Peggy in this series) A book which is now quite hard to find, scarce in dustjacket and with an interesting and uncommon signature. xii, 276 pp. Map endpapers.

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, (1930). Hardcover first edition - A relatively uncommon non-series book by this prolific author of books for older boys. Written in the same vein as the Horatio Alger books, in which the young hero makes good (in this case in New York City), but rather than simply relying on Bill's luck and alertness in being able to foil two thefts, this shows that his 'making good' is based on his growing understanding of how a large department store works and succeeds - making it a both a more interesting book than most of Alger's as well as better written. Illustrated by Bert Salg with a glossy frontispiece illustration and 3 glossy internal plates (one of two Heyliger non-series books with Salg illustrations) 188 pp plus 10 pp publisher's ads.

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, (1934). Hardcover first edition - The fourth and final book in this short-lived series from the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a series which has been praised for being more complex than even the best of the Hardy Boys. Roy Stover, a high school graduate, is the son of the owner of newspaper in northeastern US, and he is on as tracks down stories, takes risks with
courage, and endures opposition and danger with the confidence that justice will win in the end. This title involves a deserted old mansion, a traumatized young girl, gangsters, a gorilla in the woods and more, but it all comes together in the end. Published 4 years after the third book in the series, and only in this Grosset and Dunlap edition, this the hardest to find title of the series. Glossy frontispiece, illustrated endpapers. 255 pp plus 1 pp publisher's ad.

Boston: Bradley & Woodruff, (1892). Hardcover first edition - An adventure novel for older children by this prolific writer, one which begins when Jack and a two year old baby are found adrift in a lifeboat off the coast of Maine after a ship's explosion. Jack, who has a twisted back, was the cabin boy and Louis, the baby, was the son of the ship's captain. After Farmer Pratt and his son Tom discover them on the beach, Pratt plans on taking them to the poorhouse but Jack's quick thinking and bravery lead him to escape from that fate. Jack's adventures show his strong sense of responsibility for little Louis, despite the conflict with Farmer Pratt, who is determined to return them to a life devoid of freedom. As Jack seeks shelter with Aunt Nancy, they develop a bond, but the ongoing threat from Farmer Pratt looms over them. Illustrated with a frontispiece with a tissue guard and three internal glossy plates. 286 pp.

New York: Dodd, Mead, 1939. Hardcover first edition - The third book in this popular, and now quite hard-to-find, series. Set in the early days of World War II. "Peggy Foster, young New York news reporter, is fascinated by romantic tales of Fleet Street, center of London newspaper life, as she herself sails for England.. . . a picture of London seen through the eyes of a news-conscious, book-loving, eager young American, who cannot escape her absorbing profession. It is, moreover, an accurate, live account of interesting differences and similarities between news gathering and distribution abroad and in America. For older girls." Introduction by the author. In 1911, the author, Emma Bugbee, was the first woman hired by the New York Herald as a reporter, and she worked there for 55 years. Her assignment was to cover a weeks-long march of suffragists from New York City to Albany. She was also a founder of the Newspaper Women's Club of New York, and one of just a "few prominent female reporters who sought to expand the role of women in the male-dominated world of journalism that existed when she began her career. She was best known for her intimate coverage of Eleanor Roosevelt, beginning in 1933 amidst the early days of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's terms of office and ending with a reminiscence of the former First Lady, written on the day of her death in 1962." xii, 300 pp. Map endpapers.

Chicago: M.A. Donohue & Company, ca 1932. ( c 1911). Hardcover - The first book in this series featuring the adventures of "girl aviators" Peggy, Jess and Bess, and their brothers Roy and Jimsy - Roy Prescott was fortunate in having a sister so clever and devoted to him and his interests that they could dare work and play with mutual pleasure and to mutual advantage. This proved especially true in relation to the manufacture and manipulation of their airplane, and Peggy won well deserved fame for her skill and good sense as an aviator. There were many stumbling-blocks in their terrestrial path, but they soared above them all to ultimate success. It has been suggested that this series came to end (with only 4 titles) in late 1912 due to several real life fatal airplane crashes of "girl aviators" but that would seem to be contradicted by the fact that Donohue issued later reprints. Still a fascinating look at a time when young women were taking to the air, even though they had still achieved the right to vote. Glossy frontispiece. 283 pp plus 1 pp publisher's ad.

New York & Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1935. Hardcover first edition - A rather hard to find early novel written for older girls by this prolific author of mostly mysteries, historical romances (as Theodora McCormick), and fantasy and science fiction - the first of two books in the Clumber Hall series. The NY Times review commented that "this story has a verve seldom found in the usual run of boarding-school stories." Diana has returned to her beloved school determined to be a 'force for good' and inspired by her summer reading of mysteries, she founded a secret society called the Seven Fiends (pictured on the frontispiece) who would "surreptitiously perform noble deeds" but things did not work out quite as she expected. Illustrated with drawings by Hildegarde Woodward. 244 pp.

Boston: Dana Estes and Company, (c 1902). Hardcover - Novel of small town New England life, with Mrs Tree, a generous and kind hearted 91 year old woman in the center. A title in the "Handy Volume" series. Illustrated with a a frontispiece by Frank Merrill and three other inserted plates. Although Richards was best known for her many children's books, she was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for biography. She was the daughter of the doctor, abolitionist and philanthropist Samuel Gridley Howe and writer Julia Ward Howe, the author of 'Battle Hymm of the Republic." Among those wth whom she grew up in Massachusetts were the Hawthornes, and Louisa May Alcott and she traveled extensively, although most of her later years were spent in Gardine, Maine. Top edge gilt. 282 pp.

Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc., 1937. dj. Hardcover - Augusta Huiell Seaman was the first American author to write mystery stories especially for older children and young adults. Mildred Wirt, the author of the original Nancy Drew books, commented that she looked forward to getting the St Nicholas magazine every month, especially because of Seaman's stories. In the 1930s and 1940s, her books topped librarian lists of "best loved" books - yet, it is precisely because so many of her books were borrowed from libraries that copies of some of her titles in collectible condition are quite hard to find. Novel for older girls set on the coast of New Jersey and involving an unsolved mystery from Revolutionary days. Even Seaman's books which had many printings have become very hard to find in recent years, and this title - issued in the midst of the Depression - had, as far as is known, only a first printing of only 5,000 copies (many of which went to libraries) and 2 presumably smaller later printings in 1937 and 1940, making it one of her most uncommon novels. Since it is also one of her best-realized and most satisfying books with a great ending, the fact that it is so hard to find is doubly disappointing. Illustrated by Manning De V. Lee with a 3 color frontispiece, green and white illustrated endpapers, and a portion of a 1765 map. 273 pp.

New York: The Century Co., (c. 1915). Hardcover - The first of Seaman's mysteries for girls and still one of her most popular and sought-after books. As most of her best books do, this involves solving a mystery buried in the past - in this case, during the Civil War - to solve a current mystery - what is the story behind this mysterious old house? In a nod to enduring popular culture, the two friends are reading the Sherlock Holmes book "Sign of the Four" and wish they had his mystery solving abilities. Although at least 14 printings are known withThe Century Company imprint, and this title was kept in print after Century merged with D. Appleton in 1933,this title remains rather hard to find. Illustrated with a frontispiece and 7 inserted glossy plates by C. Clyde Squires. 217 pp.