365 Bedtime Stories Value Guide

This 1941 hardcover edition of 365 Bedtime Stories, authored by Viola Ruth Lowe, represents a quintessential piece of mid-century Americana from The Saalfield Publishing Company of Akron, Ohio. It is highly collectible for its nostalgic daily-entry format, which was specifically designed to assist busy parents by providing a unique moral or entertaining tale for every night of the year.

What Is 365 Bedtime Stories Worth?

The typical price range for 365 Bedtime Stories is $22 - $25 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall condition of the book cloth and spine, as these often show wear from daily use.
• Completeness of the pages and the absence of child-made scribbles or markings inside.
• The presence and condition of the original dust jacket, which significantly increases market value.
• Structural integrity of the binding and the lack of foxing or yellowing on the paper stock.

How to Identify 365 Bedtime Stories?

• Check the title page for 'The Saalfield Publishing Company' and the author 'Viola Ruth Lowe'.
• Verify the 1941 copyright date typically found on the reverse of the title page.
• Look for the characteristic hardcover binding made of book cloth and heavy cardboard typical of early 1940s production.
• Confirm the presence of 365 distinct short stories, one for each calendar day.

History of 365 Bedtime Stories

The Saalfield Publishing Company of Akron, Ohio, was one of the largest publishers of children's books and games in the world during the early to mid-20th century. This specific edition, authored by Viola Ruth Lowe, was designed to provide a short, moral, or entertaining story for every night of the year, a popular format for busy parents during the 1930s and 40s.