The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower by C. Northcote Parkinson

The item presented is a hardcover book featuring a dust jacket with a prominent maritime painting illustration depicting a naval battle scene with a large sailing ship and a rowboat in the foreground. The physical characteristics include a rectangular book format with visible wear along the edges and corners of the dust jacket, including minor creasing, chipping, and age-related discoloration typical of vintage printed media. The cover text is clearly legible, reading 'The Life and Times of HORATIO HORNBLOWER' in a combination of black and red serif typeface, followed by 'C. Northcote Parkinson' underneath. The owner provides additional unverified context stating that the item is in good condition, represents a third printing, and carries a copyright date of 1970; however, this information remains unverified from visual inspection alone. The identification of the title and author rests entirely on the clearly legible printed text visible on the front cover. The overall presentation is consistent with mid-20th-century biographical or historical publishing formats, showing standard signs of handling, shelf wear, and paper aging.

Based on what I can see in the photograph, the item is a hardcover book presenting as 'The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower' by C. Northcote Parkinson, featuring a dust jacket with a maritime battle illustration and legible serif typeface. Per user submission: the owner identifies this as being in good condition, representing a third printing, and carrying a copyright date of 1970. I cannot verify the printing edition, exact copyright year, internal condition, or structural integrity from a photo alone, and physical inspection would be needed to confirm these details. My value estimate of $25 to $50 assumes that the owner's claims regarding the printing and condition are correct. This valuation reflects typical secondhand market behavior for mid-20th-century biographical non-fiction and popular historical titles in collectible dust-jacketed condition. Demand for this specific nautical biographical genre is generally modest and steady among maritime enthusiasts, though rarely commanding high price points unless tied to rare association copies or pristine first-edition printings. If physical examination reveals the item to be a later book-club edition, a heavily worn copy with missing jacket components, or a facsimile reproduction rather than a stated third printing, the value would likely decrease to the $10-15 range or lower. To fully establish the condition, edition status, and potential market value, an in-person physical examination by a qualified book specialist or bibliographic inspection of the copyright page is recommended.