Chicago: Montgomery Ward, 1939. First edition, first issue. Small 4to. Numerous color illustrations by Denver Gillen. Title and second leaf of text detached. Original cloth-backed pictorial boards, light surface rubbing. Provenance: Ann Swainson (1888-1955), head of design at Montgomery Ward (gift inscription on title-page, dated same month as publication). 

Originally issued in wrappers, this binding is presumably in a trial binding given out to employees at Montgomery Ward. We trace no other copies in this variant hardcover binding.

In 1931, Swainson founded Montgomery Ward's Burreau of Design, which is believed to have been the first corporate industrial design department in modern American history. She was also the company's first female executive.