This is a classic piece of 20th-century children's publishing history: a Whitman Big Little Book featuring Little Orphan Annie in The Mysterious Shoemaker. These compact, thick books, with illustrations on one page and text on the facing page, were immensely popular from the 1930s through the 1950s, bringing comic strip and radio characters to young readers in an affordable, portable format.
Book Details:
Series: Big Little Book (BLB), Whitman Publishing.
Character: Little Orphan Annie, the iconic comic strip orphan created by Harold Gray.
Format: The standard small, thick, rectangular shape (approximately 4.5" tall). Features black-and-white illustrations on every left-hand page with the story text on the right.
Era:1930s-1940s, during the peak of Annie's popularity in comics and radio.
Condition:
The book is in good,vintage condition for its age. The colorful illustrated cardboard covers show moderate wear, edge softening, and possible creasing. The spine is missing. All pages are present, and the binding is secure. The interior illustrations and text are clean and legible. A solid, collectible copy showing honest use.
Collector's Appeal:
Big Little Book Collecting: A foundational series for collectors of BLBs, Whitman books, or vintage children's series.
Comic Strip & Character Licensing: An important piece of Little Orphan Annie merchandise and licensing history.
Nostalgia & Pop Culture: A direct link to pre-television children's entertainment.
A charming and historically significant artifact from the golden age of series books for kids. Perfect for the collector of vintage children's literature or comic character memorabilia.