First Edition Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates
First Edition Identification
1968 B-49 Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates
Al Perkins. Philip Wende (Illustrator). Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates. New York. Beginner Books: 1968.
Pages#: 64 pages.
Book Description: Color illustrated boards wrapped in matching dust jacket. Hugh Lofting's series of chapter books featuring Doctor Dolittle began in 1920. This book is an adaptation for younger readers. An early book in the groundbreaking Beginner Book series, written specifically to help children learn to read while simultaneously engaging and entertaining them.
Pagination: Front fixed and free endpapers illustrated in color; Doctor Dolittle titles listed on verso of front free endpaper; [i] half-title; [ii] blank; [iii] title; [iv] copyright; 3-61 story; [64] blank; back free and fixed endpaper illustrated in color.
Collectibility Context
The first edition book in its original first edition DJ is a Highly Collectible: Early book in ground breaking Beginner Books series, which changed the way children learned to read in America. Embraced by the public for 56 years with hundreds of thousands of copies sold. Al Perkins wrote over 20 children's books in a career spanning decades. Wende was a succussful children's book illustrator. Doctor Dolittle, therefore good pop culture appeal.
The Collectibility of a first edition American picturebook is comprised of specific factors, as explained in detail at Factors Affecting Collectibility.
| Scarcity | Collect ibility | Illust. | 1st Early Late | Author | Awards | Pop Culture | Copies Sold | Fran chise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
Scarcity Context
The first edition book in its original first edition DJ is Uncommon: There were no first editions found in the March 2024 survey. This first edition is not scarce, just that the market price is too low for copies to surface.
First Edition Book & Dust Jacket Descriptions
Book Front: Bound in glossy paper covered boards with color illustration. "Hugh Lofting's / [Beginner Books logo top right} / Doctor / Dolittle / and the / Pirates / ADAPTED FOR BEGINNING READERS / By Al Perkins / Illustrated by Philip Wende"
Note: Click on any of the book's images to see at larger scale.
Book Back: Bound in glossy yellow paper covered boards. Blank with no illustration or text.
Book Spine: "[BB logo] BEGINNER BOOKS [black horizontal text] Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates / Perkins B-49 [black horizontal text]"
Title Page: "Hugh Lofting's / Doctor / Dolittle / and the / Pirates / By Al Perkins / Illustrated by Philip Wende / ADAPTED FOR BEGINNING READERS / [illustration] / BEGINNER BOOKS A Division of Random House, Inc"
Copyright: (c) Copyright 1968 by Christopher Lofting. / All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Con- / ventions. Published in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York / New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada, / Limited, Toronto. / From "The Story of Doctor Dolittle" by Hugh Lofting / Copyright, 1948, by Josephine Lofting. / Copyright 1920, by Hugh Lofting / Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 68-14483 / Manufactured in the United States of America."
DJ Front: Color illustration matching Book Front. "Hugh Lofting's / [Beginner Books logo top right} / Doctor / Dolittle / and the / Pirates / ADAPTED FOR BEGINNING READERS / By Al Perkins / Illustrated by Philip Wende"
DJ Back: Beginner Books DJ Back 'R': 1967 4 Titles
"The Beginner Book story ... / [Large 'Cat In The Hat' image at left] / "Ten years ago, Dr. Seuss took 220 words, rhymed them, ... [... paragraph] / From this magically right beginning has developed the concept ... [... paragraph] / Elementary Educators all over the country ... [... paragraph] / Remedial reading specialists ... [... paragraph] / Is it any wonder that sales now total over 55 million? ... [... paragraph] / Among recent Beginner Book titles are: / THE BEAR SCOUTS, by Stan and Jan Berenstain ... [... paragraph] / [BB logo] / Beginner Books are also now / available in French-English and / Spanish-English"
DJ Spine: "[BB logo] BEGINNER BOOKS [black horizontal text] Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates / Perkins B-49 [black horizontal text]"
DJ Price: 195/195
DJ Flap Front: "195/195 [top right] / Hugh Lofting's / Doctor / Dolittle / and the / Pirates / Al Perkins / [Illustration] / This is the second DOCTOR DOLITTLE ... [... paragraph] / The first (THE TRAVELS OF DOCTOR ... [...paragraph] / As in the first book, great care has ... [... paragraph] / And the illustrations by Philip Wende / follow the spirit of Mr. Lofting's / original sketches. / This book comes from / the home of / THE CAT IN THE HAT / Beginner Books / A DIVISION OF RANDOM HOUSE, INC."
DJ Flap Back: "[Three paragraph Hugh Lofting bio] / [shadow illustration of Dr. Dolittle] [One paragraph Al Perkins biography] / [One paragraph Philip Wende biography] / (c)Copyright 1967, by Philip Wende"
First Edition Identification
First edition book states "Published in the United States by Random House" on the copyright page and has 'B-49' on the spine.
First edition dust jacket is Beginner Books 1967 DJ 'R' with text marketing "The Beginner Book story ..." In the last paragraph six books are listed beginning with The Bear Scouts (1967).
Second Printings and Later
Second printing book is identical to first printing.
Second printing DJ is Beginner Books 1969 DJ 'S' which is very similar to 1967 DJ 'R' except the last paragraph begins by listing 'MY BOOK ABOUT ME' (1969) rather than The Bear Scouts (1967).
See Beginner Book Fronts for first edition identification of the first 50 Beginner Books.
This information is from the First Edition Identification Guide: Beginner Books (2024, Flying Moose Books), by Stan Zielinski.
© Stan Zielinski
A serious collector having fun with fun books.
Attribution
© Stan Zielinski. Author of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide
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