Bambi, A Life in the Woods Value Guide

This 1929 Grosset & Dunlap edition represents one of the earliest English-language printings of Felix Salten's 1923 masterpiece. Translated by Whittaker Chambers, this specific version captures the novel's original tone before it was synonymous with the 1942 Disney film adaptation.

What affects the value of Bambi, A Life in the Woods?

• The presence and condition of the original dust jacket significantly increases the $75-$150 price range.
• Overall structural integrity, including the tightness of the cloth binding and lack of foxing on the pages.
• Provenance or inscriptions that link the copy to the early years of the book's American release.
• Scarcity of the specific 1929 printing compared to later mass-market editions produced after the 1942 movie.

How to Identify Bambi, A Life in the Woods?

• Verify the publisher is Grosset & Dunlap with a copyright date of 1928 or 1929.
• Check for the original Whittaker Chambers translation credit on the title page.
• Look for the signature green or brown cloth binding typical of early 20th-century Grosset & Dunlap reprints.
• Confirm the presence of the original dust jacket artwork, which differs significantly from later Disney-inspired designs.

History of Bambi, A Life in the Woods

Originally published in German as 'Bambi: Eine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Walde' in 1923, Felix Salten's novel tells the coming-of-age story of a male roe deer. The book was translated into English by Whittaker Chambers in 1928, and quickly became a beloved classic, especially after Walt Disney's animated film adaptation in 1942. Early editions, such as this Grosset & Dunlap printing, are highly sought after by collectors.