Wood Handbook: Basic Information on Wood as a Material of Construction

This is a softcover instructional government publication titled 'WOOD HANDBOOK: Basic Information on Wood as a Material of Construction with Data for Its Use in Design and Specifications'. The cover features tan or light brown paper stock with black typography and an illustration of a modernistic building labeled 'The Forest Products Laboratory'. Additional printed text on the cover indicates it was prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., specifically the Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Research, Forest Service, and notes the edition as '[Slightly Revised June 1940]'. The bottom of the cover lists publication sales details indicating it was sold by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. for a price of 50 cents. Physical condition characteristics include visible toning, edge wear, corner rounding, and a dark smudged mark on the left side of the front cover, which is consistent with age and handling. The user-supplied description noting 'Good condition' is unverified and should be evaluated in person. The identification of the publication relies entirely on the clearly legible cover text and typography, pointing to a mid-20th-century technical manual.

Based on the provided image, I am reviewing a softcover government publication titled 'Wood Handbook: Basic Information on Wood as a Material of Construction.' The cover bears text indicating it was prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture and notes an edition date of June 1940. From what I can see in the photograph, there is visible toning, edge wear, corner rounding, and a dark smudged mark on the front cover. The owner notes it is in 'Good condition,' though a physical inspection would be needed to assess the binding and the state of the interior pages. I am treating the identification as a working assumption based on the visible cover text. The value estimate depends on this assumption being correct; if it were a modern facsimile, the value would be negligible. Vintage technical manuals and agricultural handbooks of this type generally have a niche market, appealing primarily to woodworking enthusiasts, forestry collectors, or those interested in mid-century government ephemera. Given the visible wear and the historically high print volumes of government instructional materials, the secondary market value remains modest. Comparable items of this type typically sell in the $10 to $20 range. An in-person examination would be required to fully assess the item's completeness and overall structural integrity.