Lot 741

Better Little Book Series Collection

Estimate: $100 - $200

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration is a collection of four “Better Little Books”, including ‘Gene Autry in Law of the Range’, ‘Dick Tracy Returns’, ‘Gang Busters Step In’, and ‘The G-Man and the Gun Runners’. The Big Little Books, first published during 1932 by the Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, were small, compact books designed with a captioned illustration opposite each page of text. Other publishers, notably Saalfield, adopted this format after Whitman achieved success with its early titles, priced initially at 10¢ each and later rising to 15¢. After the first Big Little Book, ‘The Adventures of Dick Tracy’, was published (December 1932), numerous titles were sold through Woolworth's and other retail store systems during the 1930s. With a name change to “Better Little Books” during 1938, the series continued into the 1960s. Per proprietary grading/caring website, book conditions are between fine and near mint. There are general flaws from normal aging and use, as expected, such as page yellowing, spots of discoloration, wear to the spine, foxing, minor separation from the binding, and wear to the covers. The books measure 4.5" L x 3.5" W x 1.25" D.