Carpe Libris - Seize the Book - Antiquarian and Rare Books

The Railroad Series (Volumes 1-8 inclusive)
[Ralph of the Railroad Series]
Allen Chapman, [pseudonym used by Stratemeyer Syndicate]
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, Various dates, Various states

Details of each title available below:

RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE
OR
BOUND TO BECOME A RAILROAD MAN

Volume #1 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1906

Is Grosset & Dunlap reprint of title originally published by Mershon Company
Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is G/G
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has some chips (most notable one being 2.5 x 2 cm from rear bottom center of DJ) and tears largely confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine so it still shows well.
Has number 7 on engine on DJ, 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Army Train
Hardcover in pinky brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
.5 cm light bump to bottom corners not affecting pages
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with white steam and black lettering on cover and spine
A few small spots and light soiling on fore-edge
Several signatures starting but all still firm in binding
A few pages show minor marks from handling otherwise interior is clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Boys of Spring Mill”, etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph on the Engine
[i-ii] iii-iv [1] 2-278 + 6 pp of ads, none including Railroad Series

RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER
OR
CLEARING THE STACK

Volume #2 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1907

Is Grosset & Dunlap reprint of title originally published by Mershon Company
Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/G
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has some chips (most notable ones being .25 x .25 cm on either side of spine head on DJ) and tears largely confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine; one tear does extend to top of R in “Tower” on front cover.
Has number 7 on engine on DJ, 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Army Train
Hardcover in golden brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
No bumped corners
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with grey steam and black lettering on cover and spine
A few small spots on bottom edge and a couple of faint blind scratches on fore-edge
Still firm and tight in binding
A few pages show minor marks from handling otherwise interior is clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact but tender
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Boys of Spring Hill,” “The Young Express Agent,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph in the Switch Tower
[i-ii] iii-iv [1] 2-263 [264] + 4 pp of ads, none including Railroad Series

RALPH ON THE ENGINE
OR
THE YOUNG FIREMAN OF THE LIMITED MAIL

Volume #3 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1909

Is Grosset & Dunlap, possible reprint
Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/G
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has some chips (most notable one being 3 cm loss from top of DJ on spine) and tears largely confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine; one tear does extend to top of N in “Engine” on front cover.
Has number 7 on engine on DJ, 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Army Train
Hardcover in pinky brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
.25 cm bump to bottom cover corner not affecting pages
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with white steam and black lettering on cover and spine
Very light soiling on edges
Still firm and tight in binding
A few pages show minor marks from handling, and offsetting from laid in newspaper marker (2.5 x 9 cm) at page 250 otherwise interior is clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact and solid
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Ralph in the Switch Tower,” “The Young Express Agent,” “Two Boy Publishers,” “The Darewell Chums,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph on the Engine
[i-ii] iii-iv [1] 2-250 + 2 pp of ads, none including Railroad Series

RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS
OR
THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF A YOUNG ENGINEER

Volume #4 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1910

Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/Fair
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has chips (most notable one being 2.25 x 2 cm from top of DJ on spine) and tears largely confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine; one tear is causing ¾ of front inside of dust jacket to separate
Has number 7 on engine on DJ, 999 on engine on cover
Does not have grey smoke on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Army Train
Hardcover in pinky brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
Light wear to corners
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with white steam and black lettering on cover and spine
Light soiling on edges
A few signatures starting but all still firm in binding
A few pages show minor marks from handling, and offsetting from laid in newspaper marker (7.5 x 13 cm) at last page of ads, otherwise interior is clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact and solid
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Ralph in the Switch Tower,” “Ralph on the Engine,” “Darewell Chums Series,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph on the Overland Express
[i-ii] iii-iv [1] 2-274 + 11 pp of ads, the last ad page being for The Railroad Series with final entry being “Ralph, The Train Dispatcher”, (and curiously shows Ralph in the Switch Tower as being first in the Series followed by Ralph of the Roundhouse).

RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER
OR
THE MYSTERY OF THE PAY CAR

Volume #5 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1911

Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/Poor
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has bottom half of front missing and stains on remaining part that are mostly visible from the inside; additionally there are chips and tears largely confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine
Has number 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Army Train
Hardcover in pinky brown cloth with three small marks (each < 1 cm) in clouds to left of engineer; hinges and joints are fine
Light wear to corners
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with yellow steam and black lettering on cover and spine
Light soiling on edges
A few signatures starting but all still firm in binding
A few pages show minor marks from handling, and offsetting from laid in newspaper markers (15.5 x 5 cm) at page 116 and (12 X 8 cm) at page 74, otherwise interior is clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact and solid
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Ralph in the Switch Tower,” “Ralph on the Engine,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph, The Train Dispatcher
[i-ii] iii-iv [1] 2-272 + 10 pp of ads, the 5th ad page being for The Railroad Series with final entry being “Ralph, The Train Dispatcher” (and curiously shows Ralph in the Switch Tower as being first in the Series followed by Ralph of the Roundhouse).

RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN
OR
THE YOUNG RAILROADER’S MOST DARING EXPLOIT

Volume #6 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1918

Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/Good
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has 1.5 x 1.5 cm chip at top front of spine with other small chips and tears confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine
Has engine number 7 on DJ and number 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Army Train
Hardcover in golden brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
Light wear to corners
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with gray steam and black lettering on cover and spine
Light soiling on edges
A few signatures starting but all still firm in binding
A few pages show minor marks from handling, 1.5 cm tear at bottom center margin of last ad leaf, not affecting text, otherwise interior is clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact and solid
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Ralph in the Switch Tower,” “Ralph on the Engine,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph on the Army Train
[i-ii] iii-iv 1-280 + 4 pp of ads, none being for The Railroad Series; note that page 1 is numbered

RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER
OR
THE WRECK AT SHADOW VALLEY

Volume #7 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1923

Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/VG
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with green lettering; no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has 1 cm chips on either side at bottom of spine with other smaller chips and tears confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine
Has engine number 7 on DJ and number 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph on the Midnight Flyer
Hardcover in pinky brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
Light wear to corners
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with gray steam and black lettering on cover and spine
Light soiling on edges
Still firm and tight in binding
A few pages show very few minor marks from handling, there is a faint amount of offsetting from a (removed) page marker at page 4, otherwise interior is exceptionally clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact and solid
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Ralph on the Army Train,” “The Radio Boys’ First Wireless,” “The Radio Boys Trailing a Voice,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph on the Army Train

[i-ii] iii-iv 1-248 + 4 pp of ads, none being for The Railroad Series; note that page 1 is numbered

RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH
OR
THE STOLEN GOVERNMENT BONDS

Volume #8 in The Railroad Series

By Allen Chapman (pseudonym)
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1924

Complete with Dust Jacket
Condition is VG/VG
Bright illustrated original color dust jacket (not a reproduction), with black lettering (first one with black lettering in this set); no prices or stickers on DJ
DJ has small chips (most notable are 1 cm chips on bottom of spine and bottom corner of top cover) and tears confined to extremities and top/bottom of spine
Has engine number 7 on DJ and number 999 on engine on cover
Front DJ Blurb up to and including Ralph and the Army Train
Hardcover in pinky brown cloth; hinges and joints are fine
Light wear to corners
Embossed pictorial cover of a train with gray steam and black lettering on cover and spine
Light soiling on edges
Still firm and tight in binding
A few pages show very few minor marks from handling, otherwise interior is exceptionally clean with no previous owners name or writing/markings of any kind in the book
Black and white frontis intact and solid
No other glossy black & white plates
Title page says is “Author of “Ralph of the Round House,” “Ralph on the Midnight Flyer,” “The Radio Boys’ First Wireless,” “The Radio Boys With the Forest Rangers,” etc.
Verso of title lists up to & including Ralph and the Missing Mail Pouch
[i-ii] iii-iv 1-242 + 10 pp of ads, none being for The Railroad Series; note that page 1 is numbered