The Piece

A 1916 first book edition of The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs, published by A.C. McClurg & Co. and dedicated to the author’s daughter, Joan Burroughs.

This volume represents the raw, unpolished heart of early 20th-century adventure fiction, produced at the height of Tarzan’s cultural dominance. Equal parts myth-making and escapist spectacle, it reflects an era when stories were built to be consumed, shared, and physically worn by readers.

Design & Construction

→ Publisher: A.C. McClurg & Co.
→ Date: 1916
→ Binding: Original green cloth
→ Stamping: Black title and author on front board
→ Format: Early pulp-era hardcover

The minimalist cloth binding and bold typography were designed for durability rather than delicacy, a fact underscored by the book’s present condition.

Historical Context

Serialized before its book publication, The Beasts of Tarzan cemented Edgar Rice Burroughs as one of the most influential adventure writers of the early 20th century. The Tarzan series shaped popular imagination around wilderness, heroism, and empire, leaving an imprint on literature, film, and illustration that persists today.

This copy reflects that legacy not as a pristine collectible, but as a surviving object from a time when books were handled without reverence and read without restraint.

Condition

This volume is offered in as-found condition, with visible structural wear.

→ Spine compromised with cloth loss
→ Hinges split; binding fragile
→ Boards present but worn
→ Interior text intact with age-appropriate toning

Condition has been intentionally preserved and not restored.

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This book is not about perfection. It’s about presence.

Displayed on a shelf, desk, or within a curated library, it communicates history, adventure, and the physical reality of early popular literature. It pairs naturally with industrial interiors, masculine studies, travel-inspired spaces, or collections that value authenticity over polish.

It tells a story before you ever open it.

Product Details

→ Title: The Beasts of Tarzan
→ Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
→ Publisher: A.C. McClurg & Co.
→ Date: 1916
→ Origin: United States
→ Binding: Original cloth
→ Condition: Poor to Fair, structurally compromised, text intact