Du Pont Dynasty Value Guide

Du Pont Dynasty is a revised 1984 edition of Gerard Colby's controversial investigative biography, originally titled Du Pont: Behind the Nylon Curtain. This hardbound work is highly collectible due to its history of corporate suppression and the landmark legal battle fought by Colby to bring the DuPont family's secrets to light.

What affects the value of Du Pont Dynasty?

• The presence and condition of the original dust jacket significantly impact the $45-$50 price range.
• Overall physical condition, including the absence of foxing on the paper and crispness of the cloth binding.
• Historical significance of the 1984 edition as the expanded, post-litigation version of the suppressed 1974 text.
• Scarcity of well-preserved copies from the Lyle Stuart printing.

How to Identify Du Pont Dynasty?

• Verify the 1984 publication date and the Lyle Stuart imprint on the title page.
• Check for the original dust jacket featuring the distinctive red and black typography.
• Ensure the binding is the correct cloth material used for the hardbound edition.
• Confirm the author is listed as Gerard Colby, reflecting the name used for this revised release.

History of Du Pont Dynasty

Originally published in 1974 as Du Pont: Behind the Nylon Curtain, this work was famously suppressed by the DuPont family through pressure on the publisher and the Book-of-the-Month Club. The author, Gerard Colby Zilg, later won a landmark legal battle against the suppression of his work. This 1984 revised edition, published by Lyle Stuart, contains expanded material and remains a definitive critical history of the American chemical empire.