Subject: Peterson guide turns 70
Date: Apr 27 09:53:38 2004
From: Ian Paulsen - birdbooker at zipcon.net


HI:
Today, Peterson's A Field Guide to the Birds turns 70. On 27 April 1934
2000 copies of the field guide were printed and the rest is birding
history. In total 4 printings/states of the book were done between 1934
and 1939 (when the 2nd edition came out.). 3000 copies of the 2nd
state/printing were done, but I don't know how many of the 3rd and 4th
states/printings were done. This is the only field guide that has become a
collector's item with a copy of the 1st state/printing (with its
dustjacket) recently sold for $1500! So just remember that the modern era
in birding started 70 years ago today with the first peterson guide. Happy
Birthday Peterson field guide!

--
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"