The White Lady: An Adventure in Nature's Secret World (association copy)
NY: Putnam, 1952. First edition. Hardcover. An association copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To Mary Margaret McBride, with affection and deep appreciation for her interest in the white lady. Leonard Dubkin." Uncommon signed. McBride was an important mid-century radio host, described as "the first lady of Radio" and the Oprah Winfrey of her day, with a daily audience of 6-8 million listeners via NBC. Her interest in Dubkin's work would have been a big deal. This book is about Dubkin's discovery of a colony of bats in an empty Chicago lot, and in particular one albino bat that Dubkin observes over time. Dubkin was a journalist who became dedicated in his books to everyday nature in the Windy City as in A Natural History of a Backyard; a small park in Chicago is now named after him. Pale blue paper boards with the stamped illustration of bats over a dandelion on the front board, gray cloth spine. Very good with a little toning/sunning to board edges, most noticeable on spine ends; and a speckling of light foxing to top face of the text block. Also creasing to page corners where McBride dogeared pages. In a very good jacket with a little edge and corner wear, toning to spine, and a small pink stain to lower front panel. Very good / Very good. Item #1544
Price: $750.00 save 5% $712.50