The Little Ark by Jan de Hartog is a 1953 Harper & Brothers hardcover Book Club Edition illustrated by Joseph Low and accompanied by its original dust jacket.
The pages are clean, easy to read, and show no writing, rips, or tears noted, while the jacket has minor shelf wear and dark marks near the upper right corner.
This illustrated novel is set against the devastating 1953 floods in the Netherlands and follows children and their animals through a story of flood, rescue, and survival.
Details
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Item: Vintage hardcover book with dust jacket
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Title: The Little Ark
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Author: Jan de Hartog
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Illustrator: Joseph Low
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Publisher: Harper & Brothers, New York
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Publication Year: 1953
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Edition and Printing: Book Club Edition. Printing not confirmed from photos
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Format and Binding: Hardcover, red boards
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Dust Jacket: Present. Book Club Edition noted on flap. Jacket design by Shirley Smith
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Pages: 213
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Genre: Historical adventure fiction
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Language: English
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Dimensions: 8.75 x 6 x 0.75 inches
Condition Grade: Very Good
Positives
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Graded Very Good: This copy shows light use and remains clean, sound, and easy to read.
- The 213 pages are clean and legible, with no writing, rips, or tears noted.
- The red hardcover boards remain bright and show well beneath the jacket.
- The illustrated dust jacket retains strong red, green, and cream color across the front and spine.
- The binding appears secure in the open book photographs, and the pages sit evenly in the text block.
- Joseph Low's illustrations remain clear and add visual interest throughout the book.
Issues / Wear
- Dark brown or black marks are visible near the upper right corner of the front dust jacket.
- The jacket shows light shelf wear along the edges and corners.
- A small area of wear is visible along the lower edge of the front jacket.
- The page edges show mild age toning visible when the book is closed.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Close to new. Any flaw is small and named above.
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Very Good: Light use. Every flaw is named above, and none of them get in the way of reading or display.
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Good: Complete and usable, with clear signs of use. Every flaw is named above.
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Fair: Heavy wear or damage, named above. A reading or working copy, not a display piece.
Collector's Notes
The Little Ark uses the 1953 floods in the Netherlands as the setting for a story about children caught in a disaster that affected millions of Dutch people. The flood setting gives the novel a specific historical backdrop rather than a general adventure setting.
This Book Club Edition fits readers of Jan de Hartog, collectors of 1950s illustrated fiction, and readers drawn to older stories about the Netherlands, floods, rescue, and survival.
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- Photo-verified condition (no surprises)
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
