Books by Eric Sloane are a invaluable insight into the author’s personality, thoughts, reflections and philosophy. Eric Sloane (1905-1985) illustrated, painted, and wrote of what he loved most about America. Sloane wrote and illustrated 35 books as an author (though that number is often inflated inaccurately because of reprints and re-issues), a number that does not reflect a number of titles to which Eric Sloane contributed. Additionally, Sloane penned hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines throughout the course of his long career. More information about Eric Sloane, his writing, and his art, is available on our research page. A list of books authored by Sloane is available here.
Eric Sloane signing books at Grand Central Art Galleries, New York City, in 1965.
Above: Eric Sloane signing copies of I Remember America, c. 1975. If you look closely, you can tell the book from it’s distinctive green front and rear board edges and spine. You can also see that Sloane is using his Sharpie marker to personalize copies of the book by drawing covered bridges inside. The gallery is unrecorded, but it is possible it is Hammer Galleries, New York City.
An excellent resource on the titles and articles penned by Eric Sloane over the course of his long career, The America of Eric Sloane A Collector’s Bibliography, written by Dr. Dean L. Mawdsley, is an indispensable source of information. Be sure to obtain The America of Eric Sloane A Collector’s Bibliography SUPPLEMENT 2003, as Dr. Mawdsley updated his original work to include newly discovered works by Eric Sloane. Both were printed by the Connecticut Historical Commission, in 1990 and 2003, respectively.
Proceeds from the sale of each of these books will be used to support youth educational programs at the Eric Sloane Museum, part of an intiative we started. All of our books by Eric Sloane include free shipping and all applicable taxes are on us. If you wish to purchase any of the titles below, please contact the gallery for assistance.
Eric Sloane’s ABC Book of Early Americana. Hardcover with dustjacket. Dustjacket is very good with protective mylar cover. Interior clean and bright as new. Appears is if it was purchased, the protective cover installed, and then left on a shelf. Price in pencil on flyleaf, otherwise no interior markings. $14.99 Sorry – Sold.
Legacy. 1st edition, hard cover with issued dustjacket. Minimal markings and small tears to dustjacket commensurate with light handling and careful, but read, handling. Dust jacket shows some toning and mild soiling that could be cleaned. Interior is clean and bright, though some yellowing is barely visible at the extreme margins of pages. Signed and inscribed by Eric Sloane (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). A difficult to find signed 1st edition. $85.00 Sorry, sold.
For Spacious Skies by Eric Sloane. Hardcover with dustjacket. Minor rubbing and discoloration to dusjacket. Also slight tears at top rear, top front, and spine. Rear dustjacket flap is creased. Interior clean and bright. $24.99 Sorry, sold.
Eric Sloane’s I Remember America. Hardcover with dustjacket. Minor rubbing and chips to dusjacket, yet overall good for the age of the book. Interior very good with no writing or marks. This is the nice, larger edition of the original Funk & Wagnalls edition. Signed by the author. $27.50. Sorry, sold.
Everard: A Haphazard Scrapbook of Memories of Eric Sloane and his Family, as Recalled by his Sister. Obviously not a title by Eric Sloane, but by his sister, Dorothy Hinrichs. Eric Sloane was a pseudonym chosen by a young Everard Jean Hinrichs, who would become famous as Eric Sloane. Everard is a charming read and fills in much of the earliest years of Everard (Eric). Paper cover, spriral bound, as printed by the Connecticut Historical Commission in 1998. The publication had some photographs that did not reproduce well and on October 28, 1998, the staff of the Sloane-Stanley Museum (as the Eric Sloane Museum was called then) reproduced some 15 pages as replacements and issued them along with an explanatory cover letter. This copy includes that addendum package. Overall good condition with minor creases, some rubbing and a few very small tears to the top rear cover. As this was one of Wil’s copies that he used when consulting with Dorothy during his authorship of Aware: A Retrospective of the Life and Work of Eric Sloane, there are some notations in pen and in pencil towards the back of this volume. If that is concern to you as the potential buyer, please email for additional pictures of some of these notations. This title is getting more difficult to find with each passing year. I don’t think that many were printed and the vast majority seems to have been purchased quickly by collectors. $29.99 Sorry, sold.
ABC Book of Early Americana by Eric Sloane. Hardcover, no dustjacket as we believe that this was issued as part of a based set of Eric Sloane’s School Days. Excellent exterior with minor abrasions to bottom of the spine. Interior is bright and clean, without marks, and appears to have been sledom – if ever – read. A very nice copy for $14.00. Sorry, sold.
How You Can Forecast the Weather (Eric Sloane’s Weather Book). Softcover. This little paperback book has historically ranged wildly in pricing. I am not sure why, though it does seem like it is a difficult version of Sloane’s original to find, and difficult to find in reasonable condition. I took care to photograph the original seller’s description for the book. This title was purchased in a large collection of books from a long-time collector of books by Eric Sloane. Note the $95.00(!) price paid for it. $25.00. Sorry – Sold.
Boxed set of softcover titles in decorative, Sloane-illustrated slip case: Diary of an Early American Boy, A Reverence for Wood, Our Vanishing Landscape, and A Museum of Early American Tools. Difficult to find. $34.99 Sorry, sold.
Set of two: Wil Mauch’s Eric Sloane’s Simple Machines: A Boy, a Diary, and the Building of America along with Eric Sloane’s Diary of an Early American Boy. A perfect pairing to introduce readers to Noah Blake and his wonderful diary, while expanding Eric’s original 1962 story to include much information on simple machines and how they work, early 19th century-style. Books are tied together with easily removed baler twine tied in a bow (a rough attempt at charm and an homage of sorts, the answer to the question What would Eric do? to create his own set) and including a nice, small vintage gallery brochure of Eric’s paintings from 1983. Both books are brand new from their respective publishers. Proceeds from the sale to go to The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum, a 501c3 non-profit founded by Eric Sloane biographer Wil Mauch in support of The Eric Sloane Museum of Kent, Connecticut. Set of two: Wil Mauch’s Eric Sloane’s Simple Machines: A Boy, a Diary, and the Building of America along with Eric Sloane’s Diary of an Early American Boy: $35.00.
About Diary of An Early American Boy:
Originally published in 1962, Diary of An Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805 (Wilfred Funk, Incorporated, New York) introduced a generation of young readers to Noah, Rachel, and Izaak Blake through the eyes of 15 year old Noah Blake’s diary and Eric Sloane’s charming prose. The book chronicles roughly a year in the life of young Noah and is generously supplemented with Sloane’s iconic pen and ink illustrations. The copy included in this set is a brand new hard cover book with dust jacket, printed in 2008 as Dover Edition. We have brand new copies of Diary of An Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805 for sale individually, priced at $16.00 for the hardcover version with dustjacket and $11.95 for the softcover edition.
About Eric Sloane’s Simple Machines: A Boy, a Diary, and the Building of America:
This charming and informative volume introduces readers young and old to simple machines and how they work. Wil modeled this volume after Eric Sloane’s 1962 classic Diary of An Early American Boy, Noah Blake: 1805, using Eric’s original characters, pen and ink illustrations, design, and font. New stories are told of how Noah, Rachel, Izaak, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Simon used simple machines throughout 1805 to help them accomplish many tasks. These engaging stories provide the reader with a thorough understanding of what simple machines can and cannot do, generously supplemented with the drawings of architect Barry Merenoff. Additionally, Professor James Brennan explores the mathematics and physics behind how each simple machine provides a mechanical advantage to the user. The result is an informative and engaging book that will delight the young and the young at heart, the reader just beginning to understand simple machines and the reader who understands advanced mathematics and physics – and every reader in between. If you love the work of Eric Sloane, you’ll love this book. The perfect gift for anyone who admires the pen and ink drawings of the artist, and who wants to learn more about how simple machines were used to build much of early America.
Set of two: Wil Mauch’s Eric Sloane’s Simple Machines: A Boy, a Diary, and the Building of America along with Eric Sloane’s Diary of an Early American Boy: $35.00.
Priced Individually:
Eric Sloane’s Simple Machines: A Boy, a Diary, and the Building of America. New hardcover with dustjacket, in wraps. $21.95.
Eric Sloane’s Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805. New hard cover with dust jacket. $16.00.
Eric Sloane’s Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805. New soft cover (see below). $11.95
Originally published in 1962, Diary of An Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805 (Wilfred Funk, Incorporated, New York) introduced a generation of young readers to Noah, Rachel, and Izaak Blake through the eyes of 15 year old Noah Blake’s diary and Eric Sloane’s charming prose. The book chronicles roughly a year in the life of young Noah and is generously supplemented with Sloane’s iconic pen and ink illustrations. Brand new soft cover book, printed in 2008 as Dover Edition. $11.95.
A Reverence for Wood by Eric Sloane. 1965, Dodd, Meade & Company, New York. Hardbound with dust jacket. Interior excellent, dust jacket very good. Small tears and losses to jacket. $25.00. Sorry-Sold.
The Seasons of America Past by Eric Sloane. 1958 Funk & Wagnalls. Hard cover with dustjacket as issued. New old stock book. Minimal shelf wear to dusjacket, interior like new. $25.00.
The Seasons of America Past by Eric Sloane. 1958 Funk & Wagnalls. Hard cover with dustjacket as issued. Dustjacket shows chipping, creasing, losses, and small tears commensurate with a book of this age, interior like new. Signed Eric Sloane (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature) and inscribed “This was my #1 copy off the press – To a #1 Fellow – A difficult to find signed 1st edition. $85.00 Sorry, sold.
An Age of Barns (1966), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover with dusjacket. Nice, oversized book. Dustjacket shows moderate wear with rubbing, tears, losses and soiling, but very presentable. Dust jacket price clipped. Interior clean with no marks. $38.00. Sorry-Sold.
Eighty: An American Souvenir (1985), by Eric Sloane. Dodd, Mead and Company, New York. Hardcover with dusjacket. Nice, oversized book. Dustjacket with minimal shelf wear in the form of rubbing, but very good+. Interior is excellent. Fenn Galleries sticker on flyleaf page. This was obviously a book that was purchased for collecting purposes. $50.00. Sorry-Sold.
A Museum of Early American Tools (1964), by Eric Sloane. Wilfred Funk, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover with dustjacket, as issued. Dustjacket overall good with small amounts of chipping and some color fading of spine. Appears seldom and carefully handled. Dustjacket is not price clipped. Interior excellent. This is a difficult to find copy, signed by Sloane (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). $75.00 Sorry, sold.
The Cracker Barrel (1967), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover with dustjacket. Dustjacket very good with minor tears at top. Interior is like new. $20.00 Sorry – Sold.
The Second Barrel (1969), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover with dustjacket as issued. Dustjacket overall good with minor creasing and tears. Dustjacket is price clipped. Interior is like new, no marks or writing of any kind. Wonderful hand drawn pen and ink drawing by Sloane, Signed and inscribed as well (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature and drawing). A difficult to find signed 1st edition with a charming, original pen and ink illustration. $150.00 Sorry, sold.
Eighty: An American Souvenir (1985), by Eric Sloane. Dodd, Mead and Company, New York. Special slipcase edition, printed in Italy. These were limited to 350 copies to be signed by Eric Sloane and 26 copies destined for private distribution by the author/artist. If you are unfamiliar with the story, Hammer Gallery in New York City held a preview for Eric’s show Eighty on March 4, 1985. The show opened the following day. Unfortunately, Eric was beside himself because this slip case version of Eighty had only just arrived on the cargo ship from Italy. Somehow, Eric made it down to the dock where the ship was berthed and talked his way into grabbing what was probably just a case or two of books, many of which he signed for family and friends – hence the A-Z designation on the flyleaf page pictured above. He was supposed to have then signed the 350 copies to be offered for sale, but Eric Sloane died on March the 5th of a heart attack. Every copy numbered 1-350 was signed by his wife, Mimi Sloane, and an explanatory sheet of onion skin paper was inserted in front of the flyleaf page. This is number 252. Excellent, original, collectible condition.
Purchased by a client at the Hammer Galleries show, NYC, on March 5th, 1985, and includes the Hammer Gallery brochure of Eric’s works. Brochure cover is faded and shows wear, interior is unmarked and in very good condition. Brochure numbers 24 pages and includes a number of color paintings as well as a few of Eric’s pen and ink illustrations. A nice, very collectible combination.
This rare volume by Eric Sloane (1905-1985) and the accompanying brochure are being offered in support of youth education programs in S.T.E.A.M. education at the Eric Sloane Museum. We’re always available to answer any questions you may have about the Eric Sloane Museum, his books or his art. $275.00 Sorry, sold.
Eric Sloane’s ABC Book of Early Americana. Hardcover with dustjacket. Minor rubbing to jacket, otherwise clean. Interior clean and bright as new. This is a N.O.S. copy. Price in pencil on flyleaf, otherwise no interior markings. Sorry, sold.
Eric Sloane’s Americana Wonderful boxed set of 3 volumes of Eric’s earlier works on American culture: American Yesterday, American Barns & Covered Bridges and Our Vanishing Landcape. Slipcase is in good condition – still structurally solid, clean and bright for the age. Minor rubbing, soiling and small losses, mostly at the corners. This slipcase set includes all three volumes, original to the slipcase, signed by Eric Sloane and inscribed to the previous, original owner. The condition of each volume is as follows:
(1) American Yesterday (1956), by Eric Sloane. Wilfred Funk, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover w/ dust jacket. Interior excellent, dust jacket with minor losses and tears, larger approximately 1” tear on front. Minor rubbing as usually happpens with these slipcased volumes on rear of dusjacket. Sloane has written “To Bob Edwards from Eric Sloane” on the flyleaf page in his typical red marker. Provenance and further information on who Bob Edwards was and how he came to meet Sloane and receive this slipcover set is available upon request. A statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature. Interior not price clipped, addition of now vintage price tag from Fenimore Box Store for $5.95.
(2) American Barns and Covered Bridges (1954), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover w/ dust jacket. Interior excellent, dust jacket with minor losses and tears. Rubbing as usually happpens with these slipcased volumes on front of dusjacket. Interior not price clipped, addition of now vintage price tag from Fenimore Box Store for $5.95. Sloane has written “To the Edwards library from Eric Sloane” on the flyleaf page in his typical red marker. Provenance and further information on who Bob Edwards was and how he came to meet Sloane and receive this slipcover set is available upon request. A statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature.
(3) Our Vanishing Landscape (1955), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover w/ dust jacket. Interior excellent, dust jacket with minor losses and tears. Minor rubbing as usually happpens with these slipcased volumes on front of dusjacket. Interior not price clipped, addition of now vintage price tag from Fenimore Box Store for $5.95. Sloane has written “To Bob Edwards from Eric Sloane” on the flyleaf page in his typical red marker. Provenance and further information on who Bob Edwards was and how he came to meet Sloane and receive this slipcover set is available upon request. A statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature.
Eric Sloane’s Americana Wonderful boxed set of 3 volumes of Eric’s earlier works on American culture: American Yesterday, American Barns & Covered Bridges and Our Vanishing Landcape. An excellent opportunity to find the slipcased example of three of Sloane’s foundational works on American life and culture. Difficult to find with all three volumes signed – many that I have seen over the years are in actuality a hodge-podge of individual signed books collected and placed in a slipcase removed from a set of unsigned volumes to create a signed,3 volume set that never really went together. These were purchased from the original owner and were given and signed by Sloane as a gift. $125.00 Sorry, sold.
Look at the Sky (1961), by Eric Sloane. Duell, Sloan & Pearce, New York. First edition, hardcover with dustjacket as issued. Dustjacket overall good with small amounts of chipping and some color fading of spine. Appears seldom and carefully handled. Dustjacket is not price clipped. Interior excellent. No marks or writing on interior pages, some light toning to the extreme edges of pages, typical for this title and age. This is a difficult to find copy, signed by Sloane (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). $95.00.
Mr. Daniels and the Grange (1968), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover with dustjacket, as issued. Dustjacket overall very good with small amounts of toning and a bit of old price tag adheasive on the cover, whcih could be cleaned. Appears seldom and carefully handled. Dustjacket is price clipped. Interior excellent. This is a difficult to find copy, signed by Sloane “To John and Marie” (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). $85.00.
American Barns & Covered Bridges (1964), by Eric Sloane. Wilfred Funk, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover, missing dustjacket. Boards and spine are solid, boards are clean and quite presentable as is. Moderate foxing, rubbing and staining on end papers and flyleaf, rest of interior is clean. This is signed by Sloane (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature) on the flyleaf. $35.00. Sorry, Sold.
Diary of An Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805 (1962), by Eric Sloane. Wilfred Funk, Incorporated, New York. Hardcover with dust jacket as issued. Dustjacket overall good with small amounts of chipping and some fading, as well as soiling and a few tears about .75″ in length. Dustjacket is price clipped. Interior excellent. Comes with a letter from the Union Iron Works Co. Letter is adressed to “Hans” and includes some background on the book as well as that the book is a Christmas gift. It would appear from the letter that the company purchased multiple volumes of the book to give away as Christmas gifts and had Eric sign each one. This is a difficult to find copy as it is signed by Sloane (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). $75.00.
Don’t – A Little Book of Early American Gentility (1968), by Eric Sloane. Funk & Wagnalls, Incorporated, New York. Hardbound, with dust jacket as issued. According to John Townsend, this is supposed to be a very scarce book to find with dustjacket. Dustjacket is in good condition, showing minor chipping, creasing, and losses. 3 or 4 areas have previously been carefully taped. Interior very good, has the feel of being seldom read. Signed by Eric Sloane on title page (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). The combination of issued dustjacket and original signature makes this one special. $75.00
A Reverence for Wood (1974 Ballentine Edition), by Eric Sloane. Ballentine Books, New York. Softcover edition. Exterior good, showing minor toning and small losses to spine. Interior very good, has the feel of being seldom read. Signed by Eric Sloane on title page (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). The combination of this being a Ballentine softcover and with an original signature makes this one special. $35.00. Sorry, sold.
Recollections in Black and White (1974), by Eric Sloane. Walker & Company, Incorporated, New York. Hardbound, with dust jacket as issued. Dustjacket is in good condition, showing toning. Interior very good, has the feel of being seldom read. This is a unique copy is it is hand-signed by Eric Sloane, an original signature. Most of these offered on eBay are listed as “signed”, but the sellers (and buyers) are fooled into thinking that Sloane’s signature on page 64 of the book is an original, which it is not as it is printed. This volume has an original signature, signed by Eric Sloane on title page (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). $75.00.
The Little Red Schoolhouse (1972), by Eric Sloane. Doubleday & Company, Incorporated, Garden City, New York. Hardbound, with dust jacket as issued. Dustjacket is in good condition, showing minor chipping and losses. Price clipped. Interior very good, has the look and feel of being seldom read. Signed by Eric Sloane on fly leaf page (a statement of authenticity will be included with your invoice, attesting to the authenticity of the signature). $75.00
Skies and the Artist (1950) by Eric Sloane. 1st edition, soft cover. Not a reprint. Collector-grade example sold by Town’s End Books. Their inventory designation is written on the flyleaf page along with a sale price of $225.00. No interior markings, very minimal losses and small creases to cover commensurate with light and careful handling. Slight, old water staining on front cover. This is likely a copy in the best condition I have seen in 25 years. A difficult to find book in general, very difficult to find in this condition. $45.00.
Camouflage Simplified by Eric Sloane. Published by The Devin-Adair Company, 1942. First edition, first printing. Usually the last book to be obtained by the serious collector, as these are ultra rare in any condition (and the usual condition is poor due to the age of the book and, more importantly, how it was handled and stored). This particular copy shows very well as it was purchased as part of a large collection of Eric Sloane books owned by a serious collector. Townsend Books TB Code and price written in pencil on flyleaf. Sold by Townsend Books in 2002 for $450.00. Original invoice is included with the book. In terms of condition, this is probably in the best condition I have seen, not surprising given the way the collector stored his volumes and Townsend’s reputation for handling books in exceptional condition. Overall in very good condition, very light soiling to the front and rear covers. No dustjacket as this title never had one, just a very engaging, full cover illustration to front cover. 61 pages of text with 34 illustrations by Sloane. An extremely scarce, early title by Sloane. $350.00.
