M.A. Donohue & Company
Early Children's Adaptation with 1920 Ohio Schoolmate Inscription.
Collector’s Note
This early twentieth-century Young Folks' Edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin represents a fascinating chapter in the publishing history of one of America's most influential novels. Rather than presenting Harriet Beecher Stowe's full 1852 anti-slavery classic, publishers adapted the story for younger readers, introducing new generations to themes of freedom, family, faith, and human dignity.
Particularly appealing is the book's handwritten 1920 Christmas inscription, which transforms this volume from a simple children's book into a tangible piece of Midwestern social history. Such personal inscriptions often provide a rare glimpse into everyday life, friendships, and school experiences from more than a century ago.
For collectors of children's literature, early juvenile adaptations, African American history, Ohio ephemera, and Harriet Beecher Stowe material, this well-traveled survivor offers both historical significance and personal charm.
Offered here is an early twentieth-century Young Folks' Edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, published by M.A. Donohue & Company of Chicago. This edition is a heavily abridged adaptation intended for younger readers. The text simplifies and condenses Stowe's original novel while retaining its central story and moral themes.
Although the book does not contain a formal copyright page, research suggests this edition was likely published during the first decade of the twentieth century, approximately 1905–1910. The front cover bears the publisher's series number 181, while the rear cover features a decorative red illustration of Mother Goose surrounded by familiar nursery-rhyme characters including Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, Jack and Jill, Three Blind Mice, and Little Jack Horner.
A particularly noteworthy feature is the handwritten gift inscription on the front endpaper:
"To My Dear Schoolmate Lowell Coate, Dec. 25, 1920. In memory and appreciation of the good times we had riding to school together in your surrey behind 'Old Doll.' — Ivan Leon Eikenberry."
Research indicates both Ivan Leon Eikenberry and Lowell Coate spent much of their lives in the Montgomery County, Ohio area, where this book was later discovered. The inscription adds a compelling layer of provenance and local history to the volume.
Author Biography
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) was an American author, educator, and abolitionist whose novel Uncle Tom's Cabin became one of the most influential books of the nineteenth century. Published in 1852, the work brought widespread attention to the realities of slavery and helped shape public opinion in the years before the American Civil War. Stowe remains one of the most important figures in American literary and social history.
Condition: This book is in fair to good antique condition and remains complete despite significant age-related wear. Features and condition notes include:
- Original illustrated hardcover boards
- Decorative front cover illustration of Uncle Tom and Eva
- Rear cover Mother Goose design in red ink
- 1920 gift inscription on front endpaper
- Unnumbered pages remain attached to the binding
- Expected foxing, browning, staining, edge wear, and paper fragility
- Cover wear, rubbing, scuffing, and surface loss consistent with age and use
Like many inexpensive children's books of the period, this volume was printed on low-cost paper that naturally darkens and becomes brittle with age. Despite these issues, the book remains an appealing example of early juvenile publishing and retains strong display value.
Historical Context & Content Notice
This book contains language, themes, and imagery associated with historical depictions of slavery and race in the United States. Such material may include stereotypes and perspectives that are offensive today. The volume is offered as a historical artifact for research, education, and collecting purposes. It is presented to encourage understanding of the cultural and social conditions in which it was produced and circulated, not as an endorsement of those views.
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