Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley Value Guide

This edition of Westward Ho! is highly collectible due to the vibrant, dynamic illustrations by N.C. Wyeth, which revitalized Charles Kingsley's 1855 Elizabethan sea adventure. Part of the iconic Scribner Illustrated Classics series, it represents a pinnacle of early 20th-century American book design and children's literature.

What Is Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley Worth?

The typical price range for Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley is $45 - $50 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition of the pictorial cover label, as these are prone to scuffing, peeling, or fading.
• Completeness of the internal color plates; missing or torn illustrations significantly reduce the $45-$50 market value.
• The presence and condition of the original dust jacket, which can occasionally push the value toward the higher end of the range.
• Overall structural integrity, including the tightness of the binding and the absence of foxing on the paper pages.

How to Identify Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley?

• Look for the distinctive pictorial cloth cover featuring a Wyeth illustration pasted onto the front board.
• Verify the publisher is Charles Scribner's Sons, typically dated between 1920 and 1947 for this specific series run.
• Check for the presence of full-color interior plates protected by glassine tissue guards, a hallmark of the Wyeth editions.
• Confirm the title page attributes the illustrations specifically to N.C. Wyeth.

History of Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley

Originally published in 1855, this specific edition features the renowned illustrations of N.C. Wyeth, part of the Scribner Illustrated Classics series. Wyeth's dynamic paintings helped revitalize interest in the Elizabethan-era sea adventure, making it a staple of 20th-century children's literature collections.