Autumn Across America by Edwin Way Teale hardcover book (not authenticated)

This physical item is a hardcover book featuring a dust jacket with a striking gradient background shifting from deep rust red at the top to a bright yellow and blue depicting a stylized map of North America at the bottom. Several illustrated Canada geese in flight are scattered across the cover. The prominent typography on the front cover reads in large yellow serif letters 'Autumn Across America' and in bold blue lettering 'EDWIN WAY TEALE'. At the very bottom, smaller white text reads 'A naturalist's record of a 20,000 mile journey through the North American autumn'. The dust jacket shows minor edge wear and light creasing along the top and bottom margins, which is consistent with age and handling. The physical construction appears to be a mid-20th-century cloth-bound book typical of travel and nature literature from that era. The identification rests primarily on the clearly legible title and author text printed on the front cover. The owner has provided additional context suggesting the item is in good condition with a copyright date of 1956, though this specific user-supplied claim regarding the publication year and exact condition remains unverified by physical inspection.

Based on the provided image and description, I am evaluating the hardcover book presented as Edwin Way Teale's 'Autumn Across America' with a stated 1956 copyright. Per user submission, the item is described as being in good condition with minor edge wear on the dust jacket. Based on what I can see in the photograph, the dust jacket displays typical mid-20th-century design characteristics and minor shelf wear consistent with handling, but I cannot verify the exact printing state, paper acidity, or internal binding integrity from a photo. A physical inspection would be needed to confirm whether this is a first edition, a later printing, or a book club edition, as these distinctions heavily influence market value. Mid-century nature and travel literature generally sees modest demand among collectors, with common editions trading accessibly in the secondhand market. The estimated value range assumes the book aligns with the presumed edition and condition details provided; however, if this piece turns out to be a modern reproduction, a facsimile, or lacks the original dust jacket, the market value would drop significantly to a nominal amount. To establish a higher level of certainty regarding its publishing history and overall condition, an in-person examination by a rare book specialist would be required. All assessments of attribution and edition remain working assumptions pending physical verification.