1912 First Edition - Chronicles of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Author: L. M. Montgomery.
Title: Chronicles of Avonlea.
Publisher: Boston, L. C. Page & Company, June 1912 (First Edition, first printing).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches. 
Pages: 306 pages + publisher's catalogue.
Binding: Very good original publisher’s pale green cloth binding, gilt-lettered on the spine and upper cover, with a mounted colour portrait of Anne Shirley inset within a decorative frame on the front board (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Overall, a clean, attractive example of the original binding.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or toning - as shown, a pencil contemporary gift inscription dated March 18, 1919 to the front endpaper - as shown). 
Illustrations: Complete with a colour frontispiece portrait of Anne Shirley and a matching cover illustration, both by George Gibbs, a noted early twentieth-century American illustrator.

Estimate: (USD 350–500).

The book: Chronicles of Avonlea is a cornerstone of L. M. Montgomery’s beloved Avonlea cycle, gathering twelve interlinked stories set in and around Prince Edward Island. While Anne Shirley herself plays only a supporting role, the book deepens the social and emotional fabric of Avonlea through vivid portraits of its inhabitants, blending gentle humor, moral insight, and Montgomery’s unmistakable pastoral lyricism. This First Impression, June 1912, represents the book as it was first presented to the reading public, in its original decorative cloth with the iconic Anne Shirley portrait.

The author: Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) is one of Canada’s most enduring literary figures. Best known for Anne of Green Gables and its sequels, her work shaped international perceptions of Canadian rural life and secured a lasting global readership. Montgomery’s ability to combine emotional sensitivity with narrative charm is on full display in Chronicles of Avonlea, a work that bridges episodic storytelling and the wider Avonlea saga.

The illustrator: George Gibbs was a prominent American illustrator whose work appeared in books, magazines, and posters during the early twentieth century. His refined color portrait of Anne Shirley helped define the visual identity of Montgomery’s characters for contemporary readers and remains closely associated with early Page & Company editions.