Rare NFLD Book 1861 After Icebergs with a Painter By Rev. Louis L. Noble
Here’s a look at what After Icebergs with a Painter: A Summer Voyage to Labrador and Around Newfoundland by Rev. Louis L. Noble (1861) is worth, based on current listings + what drives value, plus what to look for in your copy.
What the Market Shows
Here are some recent sale / listing prices for the book:
| Listing | Condition / Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Midway Book Store (ABAA) — First edition, “Fair” condition, with all six tissue‑guarded litho plates by Frederic Edwin Church; binding copy; some wear, etc. | US$600.00 | |
| Mullen Books (ABAA) — First edition, very good, unfoxed copy; six tinted lithographs; some edge wear, cloth fade, etc. | US$500.00 | |
| The Known World Bookshop (Australia) — Good condition, first London edition, wear on boards & spine, many pages uncut; six tinted lithos; price ≈ EUR 384–≈US$410 depending on currency. |
So these suggest that when complete and in decent condition, the book can fetch US$400‑US$600+.
Key Factors That Drive Value
Here’s what substantially affects what someone might pay:
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Edition: First editions (1861, London / New York) are by far the most valuable. Later reprints are much less.
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Condition of boards / binding: Cloth cover condition, spine intactness, corners, fading, etc.
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Presence and condition of plates / illustrations: The six tinted lithographic plates by Frederic Edwin Church are very desirable, especially if tissue guards are intact. Missing, damaged, or discoloured plates reduce value a lot.
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Pages uncut / clean: If many pages are still uncut (i.e. fold/trim hasn’t been done), it adds to collectibility. Clean, crisp pages vs heavy foxing or staining matter.
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Provenance & any extra features: Bookplates, signatures, prior owners, etc., can add value.
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Rarity and demand: Natural history / travel books of that era, especially with plates by famous artists (Church in this case), attract collectors. The geographic subject (Labrador / Newfoundland) adds a niche demand.
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Completeness: Ads, frontispiece, all parts present help.
Rough Value Ranges
Based on condition, completeness, etc., here are ballpark estimates:
| Condition / Attributes | Rough Value (USD) | Rough Value (CAD) equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| First edition, excellent to very good condition, all plates, binding tight, minimal wear | US$600‑900+ | CAD 800‑1,300+ |
| First edition, good condition, some wear, plates present but maybe minor defects | US$400‑600 | CAD 600‑900 |
| First edition but fair or poor condition (damage to binding, wear, missing tissue guards, some foxing) | US$200‑400 | CAD 300‑600 |

