A bright, oversized 1933 bird book on migration, written for curious readers and beautifully illustrated throughout by Walter Alois Weber. Rather than telling a plot-driven story, this book explains how birds travel, why they migrate, and how different species navigate seasonal change, with chapters like “The Bird’s Compass,” “Why Birds Migrate,” and “Long Distance Champions.”
The appeal here is visual as much as textual: color plates, bird map endpapers, and a dust jacket with serious shelf presence even in worn condition.
Quick Specs
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Item Type: Vintage illustrated hardcover book with dust jacket
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Size: 12 x 10 x .25 in.
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Material: Hardcover with pictorial boards; dust jacket present
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Color: Blue, yellow, black, white, and multicolor bird illustrations
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Origin or Maker: M. A. Donohue & Company, Chicago and New York
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Year or Era: 1933
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GENRE: Ornithology / Natural History
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Language / Pages: English / 64 pages
Edition & Features
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Edition/Printing: 1933 edition;
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Dust Jacket: Present
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Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Illustrated by Walter Alois Weber; color plates, black-and-white drawings, and illustrated map endpapers
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Extras: Dust jacket with both flaps present; previous owner inscription reading “Marcile Cunningham”
Condition Grade: Good
Notes: A sound vintage copy with significant dust jacket wear but strong visual appeal. Jacket shows chips and paper loss at corners and spine ends, several tears and creases along the top edge, rubbing and wear along edges, and areas of loss/splitting visible at the spine ends and lower corners.
Boards show edge wear and rubbing visible beneath the jacket. Interior pages shown appear generally clean and readable, with light age toning. A previous owner name is written on the endpaper, and one interior page/endpaper area shows a noticeable stain mark. 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.
Notes
Previous owner inscription: “Marcile Cunningham.”
About the Author: Rudyerd Boulton
The title page identifies Rudyerd Boulton with the Division of Birds at the Field Museum of Natural History. In this book, he turns bird migration into an accessible natural history subject for younger readers and anyone who likes science explained clearly.
The jacket and title page also credit Walter Alois Weber, whose bird art gives the book much of its charm. Walter A. Weber later became widely known for his scientifically grounded wildlife art.
A wonderful pick for bird lovers who want something as displayable as it is readable.
Shelf-worthy vintage finds you can trust. Find Your Story.
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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.
