Sally Pratt McLean (Sarah Pratt McLean Greene) “Cape Cod Folks” Vintage Hardcover 1904

📖 Cape Cod Folks by Sally Pratt McLean (Grosset & Dunlap, ca. 1904) — A Grosset & Dunlap reprint of the 1881 regional classic that caused a libel lawsuit when its real-life Cape Cod characters recognized themselves in its pages.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Sally Pratt McLean (Sarah Pratt McLean Greene, 1856–1935)
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, New York
• Year: ca. 1904 (copyright dates 1881 and 1904)
• Format: Hardcover in red cloth, no dust jacket
• Pages: ~327 | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN era)
• Condition: Very Good- (VG-) — full report below

THE STORY

Cape Cod Folks was originally published in 1881 and drew immediate attention for its thinly veiled portrayals of real Cape Cod residents. McLean had taught school in Cedarville (fictionalized as “Wallencamp”) and turned her experiences into a quasi-autobiographical novel that critics praised as “a triumph of character sketching.” The real people depicted were less amused — they sued for libel and won a settlement, forcing McLean to change character names in subsequent editions. The novel was later adapted into a silent film, Her Man (1924), directed by Reginald Barker and produced by Louis B. Mayer.

THIS EDITION

This Grosset & Dunlap reprint carries copyright dates of 1881 and 1904, placing it in the early 1900s reprint era. Grosset & Dunlap was known for affordable reprints of popular titles, making literature accessible to a wider audience. The edition is notable for including six photographic plates reproduced from the early stage play adaptation — a fascinating artifact of both regional American literature and theatrical history.

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

The red cloth binding features silver-stamped lettering and a central circular illustration depicting a Cape Cod lighthouse scene with waves and a sailing vessel. The spine mirrors this design with a lighthouse motif between the title and “GROSSET & DUNLAP” at the foot. The six interior photographic plates capture scenes from the stage play, including “The Meeting in the School-House,” “Luther Cradlebow and George Oliver,” and other dramatic moments with actors in period costume.

WHY IT MATTERS

• One of the earliest American regionalist novels, preceding the movement’s golden age by decades
• The libel lawsuit it inspired is a notable case in early American publishing law
• The photographic plates from the stage play adaptation make this a dual artifact of literary and theatrical history
• Grosset & Dunlap reprints played a key role in democratizing access to American literature in the early 20th century

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? A Grosset & Dunlap reprint, ca. 1904, with copyright dates of 1881 (original) and 1904 (reprint). Includes six photographic plates from the stage play adaptation.

What condition is it in? Very Good- (VG-) — see full condition report below.

Is this the first edition? No — the first edition was published in 1881 by A. Williams & Co. (later DeWolfe, Fiske & Co.). This is a Grosset & Dunlap reprint from ca. 1904.

FOR COLLECTORS

This copy retains the original character names before the libel-mandated changes, and the six photographic plates from the stage play adaptation — with their period costumes and settings — make it a visually rich artifact of early American theatrical production.

Book Details

Author: Sally Pratt McLean (Sarah Pratt McLean Greene)

Illustrator: Illustrated with photographs from the theatrical play.

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Binding: Hardcover

Edition Points: Early reprint edition containing 6 photographic plates from the stage play, the last being detached but present and complete.

Copyright dates listed are 1881 and 1904.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Very Good- (VG-)

Cover & Spine: The red cloth boards are fairly uniform if somewhat tanned, spine most so. Board corners are lightly bumped with wear on the tips with board visible through on both front corners. White lettering and decorations are complete, somewhat faded

Dust Jacket: Not present.

Text Block & Pages: The internal text pages are clean with light age-toning. The front pastedown and front flyleaf show significant browning and dark offsetting, likely from a previously inserted paper clipping. A vintage signature is present in pencil on the front flyleaf., other wise no marks

Binding: Square and tight. The hinges partially shook, but remaining intact, albeit a bit weak.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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