Return to the River is one of those books that sits beautifully between nature writing and narrative nonfiction. Roderick Haig-Brown follows the life cycle of a great Chinook salmon, tracing its journey from river to sea and back again with the eye of a naturalist and the pace of a storyteller. It is a book for readers who love rivers, fish, field observation, and the quieter side of sporting literature. This 1942 Collins London copy retains its striking fish dust jacket, with visible wear and losses that honestly show its age.
Quick Specs
• Item Type: Hardcover book with dust jacket
• Size: 8 x 5 x 1 in.
• Material: Cloth boards, paper dust jacket
• Color: Reddish-brown cloth boards; cream and black illustrated jacket
• Origin or Maker: Collins, 48 Pall Mall, London
• Year or Era: 1942
• GENRE: Natural History / Fishing Literature / River Writing
• Language / Pages: English / 191 pages
• Identifiers: No ISBN shown; copyright 1942
Edition & Features
• Edition/Printing: 1942 Collins Clear-Type Press edition
• Dust Jacket: Present; heavily worn with chips and tears
• Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Illustrations by Charles DeFeo
• Extras: Gift inscription dated Nov. 11th, 1942 on front endpaper
• Title Page: Return to the River: A Story of the Chinook Run by Roderick L. Haig-Brown
Condition Grade: Good
Positives:
• Dust jacket is still present, which adds a lot of visual appeal
• Hardcover boards appear sound beneath the jacket
• Interior text pages look readable and generally clean
• Title page and contents pages are present
• Illustrated plates and fish artwork are present
• Binding appears intact in the photos
• Nice period inscription dated 1942
Issues / Wear:
• Dust jacket has significant chipping and paper loss, especially at corners, spine ends, and lower front panel
• Jacket shows edge tears, creasing, rubbing, and overall age toning
• Jacket spine is worn and split-looking at edges
• Pages show age toning throughout
• Some wear visible at board edges and spine ends
• Gift inscription on front endpaper: “Many Happy Returns of your Birthday. Nov 11th 1942”
• Light scattered speckling/age marks visible on some pages and jacket
• Sold as pictured—please review all photos carefully.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
Provenance & Notes
• Front endpaper carries a 1942 gift inscription
• Jacket flap text describes the book as the life history of one of the great Chinook salmon of Columbia
• No ISBN shown, which is expected for this period edition
About the Author: Roderick L. Haig-Brown
Roderick Haig-Brown is a beloved name in fishing and nature writing, known for blending close observation with graceful, readable prose. His books appeal to anglers, collectors of sporting literature, and readers who simply love well-written river books.
A lovely old river book for the reader who would rather be near moving water.
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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.
