First 2 Volumes from The Musket Boys Series by George A. Warren (1909 Hardcovers w/o DJ Set) 

 

 

•    Author:                 George A Warren, a.k.a. 

the Stratemeyer Syndicate

•    Illustrator:            Charles Nuttall (1872-1934)

•    Publisher:            Cupples & Leon Company   New York, NY   U.S.A.     1909

 

 

George A. Warren was a pen name used on two early Cupples & Leon series, the Musket Boys series (1909—1910), about the American Revolutionary War, and the Banner Boy Scouts series (1912—1916), the Stratemeyer Syndicate’s attempt to tell stories of the activities of the members of the Boy Scouts of America. 

 

The “pen name” created for this series (and used for the Banner Boy Scouts series) was intended to evoke George Washington and General Warren of Bunker Hill fame. 

As the titles imply, in the Stratemeyer Syndicate series the Musket Boys, stories are set during the American Revolutionary War.  Edward Stratemeyer had written other stories on his own about the colonial period but these stories were produced through the Syndicate with Weldon J. Cobb writing from Stratemeyer’s outlines.

The books were very expensive in the original Cupples & Leon editions, retailing for $1.00. This helps to account for the difficulty in finding them today. There are cheap Goldsmith reprints for the dime store market that are much easier to find. I think these reprints are from about 1930 but could be somewhat earlier considering when Cupples & Leon gave up on the series (as they did several others of this period). 

Cupples and Leon promoted the Musket Boy series as “The Revolutionary Series” with the following titles:

1. Musket Boys of Old Boston (1909)
2. Musket Boys Under Washington (1909)
3. Musket Boys on the Delaware (1910)
4. Musket Boys at Princeton (phantom)

Only first three volumes were written and published. The fourth title was advertised as the next title at the end of volume 3, but it is a “phantom title” because it was never published. 

Note that in 1909, the 1st two volumes were the complete set. 

Both volumes look to have been a 1909 birthday present to a young boy.  Old Boston is in slightly better shape than Under Washington.  The title page is gone from Washington, although Aunt Lilly’s gift inscription is in front end-pages.  There is a store sticker in the rear end-pages indicating Washington was bought from F.A.O, Schwarz on W 23rd St. in New York.  Old Boston has some strips torn off a few pages in the middle of the book (perhaps gone to spitballs).  Gutters torn in both books yet text seems complete, with solid binding although at least one illustration plate is loose and laid in.  Date stamp of Nov 18, 1909, doodling & POS in end-pages, but none in text.  Hardcovers have light blue cloth boards, tricolor (red, white & black) illustrations, with gold lettering on spine and front, but no DJ. 

 

 

•    Size:  12mo - over 5¾ - 7¾" tall,   601pp.

•    Condition:  Fair Hardcover 2 Volume set w/o DJs  –   Always Privately owned.  Early printings of Cupples & Leon 1st Edition. 

 

Copyrights 1909 for both titles.  Printed in U.S.A.  No edition or print run info printed, but 1909 date stamped into front papers.  1st Edition, early printing thus assumed.  No ISBN nor LCCN.  MSR = US $1.00, postage paid.  Rare Cupples & Leon 1st Edition.   

 

 

Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:

 

Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.”  Booksellers needed some word to describe this...

 

Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher. 

 

Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.  

 

 Acceptable – How a young child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.)

 

Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have

missing pages (you should ask).

 

Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.

 

1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector might desire this copy.

 

Thanks for looking!