Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There Value Guide

This Alta Edition of T.S. Arthur's 1854 masterpiece represents the second most popular novel of the Victorian era, surpassed only by Uncle Tom's Cabin. Published by Porter & Coates between 1875 and 1890, these decoratively bound hardcovers served as influential tools for the American temperance movement.

What Is Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There Worth?

The typical price range for Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There is $40 - $45 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition of the gold leaf stamping on the spine and front board, as fading significantly reduces collector interest.
• The presence of foxing or water stains on the interior pages, common in 19th-century paper stocks.
• Structural integrity of the binding, specifically looking for 'shaken' hinges or frayed cloth at the spine ends.
• Completeness of the volume, including all original pages and the Porter & Coates advertisements often found at the back.

How to Identify Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There?

• Verify the 'Alta Edition' branding typically found on the spine or front cover in decorative typography.
• Check the publisher's imprint for 'Porter & Coates' located at the base of the spine or on the title page.
• Look for the characteristic late 19th-century binders board covered in cloth with gold leaf or black stamped ornamentation.
• Confirm the presence of the original frontispiece illustration which was a staple of this specific series.

History of Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There

First published in 1854, this novel became the second most popular book of the Victorian era, trailing only Uncle Tom's Cabin. It served as a powerful piece of temperance literature, detailing the ruinous effects of alcohol on a small town and its families. The 'Alta Edition' was a popular series of affordable, yet decoratively bound classics produced in the late 19th century.