A vintage nature / field guide to attracting, identifying, and housing the birds right outside your window. Ted S. Pettit’s classic stayed popular through the backyard-birding boom and still reads like solid, practical advice.
Inside you’ll find clear ID drawings, feeder and birdhouse guidance, seasonal tips, and handy tables—illustrated by George Greller and Donald Ross. Photo-verified condition with its bright green jacket; ready for your shelf and your garden plans.
Quick Specs
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Size: 8 × 6 × 0.5 in
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Material: Hardcover book with paper dust jacket
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Color: Green and cream dust jacket; cream pages with black/gray illustrations
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Origin or Maker: Avenel Books, New York
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Year or Era: Copyright 1949 & 1953; Avenel reprint (undated, mid-century)
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GENRE: Nature / Field Guide / Birdwatching
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Language:English
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Pages: 210
Edition & Features (books)
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Edition/Printing: Avenel Books reprint of the original work
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Dust Jacket: Present; bright jacket with edge wear/nicks at spine ends and corners
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Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Drawings by George Greller (birds) and Donald Ross (line drawings); feeder/house plans & tables
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Extras: Prior owner’s blind-embossed private library seal on the title page (see close-ups)
Condition
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Grade: Good
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Notes: Dust jacket shows shelf rubbing, small tears/nicks at edges and spine tips; boards clean; pages evenly toned from age with occasional handling marks; binding square and secure; prior owner’s embossed seal on title page.
- See all photos for detail—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound reading copy; some marks.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
Provenance & Notes
From a private reader’s library; embossed ownership seal present.
About the Author / Maker: Ted S. Pettit
Ted S. Pettit wrote widely on accessible, hands-on natural history. Jacket notes credit him with popular nature titles and work tied to youth and outdoor education, which shows in the book’s clear, practical tone.
Add this cheerful green classic to your shelf—and let the backyard bird traffic begin.
Disclaimer
The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide.
While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
About Reading Vintage
At Reading Vintage, I curate one-of-a-kind treasures for book lovers, decorators, and collectors—including vintage books, retro bookends, and charming collectible pieces.
