Edgar Rice Burroughs has had the sort of career that few writers would even dream of. International success with not just one of his characters, but several, across multiple media outlets, and changing the collective imagination of a generation. Ray Bradbury once commented that the man was 'one of the most influential writers in the entire history of the world'. High praise indeed, coming from the other leader of imaginative and fantastic fiction.
Edgar Rice Burroughs first choice of career - in the military - was rejected on health grounds, and so the young man drifted, becoming a ranch handler and eventually the seller of wholesale pencil sharpeners. It was during this period of his thirties that he started writing stories for magazines, which later became known as the Tarzan and Barzoom franchise.
Edgar Rice Burrough's creations were always wildly creative and imaginative: stories of everyday people flung into the far future or the centre of the earth, or a distant planet. They were tales of impossible things, but that all shared one key vision: that by acting with courage, we could achieve astounding things. It is perhaps for this message as much as anything else which is why he is so loved.
One of the most beloved works to collect of Burroughs would be his Tarzan series, however, seeing as there are some twenty five short novellas in the whole series, it can be a daunting task. Consider as you search the early reprints of these books, such as A.L. Burt's 1915 edition of Tarzan of the Apes (originally published in 1914) featuring some of the original plate illustrations from the earlier edition. If found with a fine cover, and in hardback format, it could cost as little as three hundred US dollars at auction!
A similar tale is to be found in Burrough's famous story The Land That Time Forgot First Edition McClurg 1924 (now a motion picture film). The first print run was limited to 10,000 copies, and if found with its original dust jacket (full colour depiction of dinosaurs) then it can easily be worth three or four thousand US dollars! However, if you are willing to accept an edition with a missing or damaged dust jacket, that price falls suddenly and dramatically to barely three, four, or five hundred US dollars.
As with all much-loved fantasy and SF writers, it is perhaps the worlds and the stories that the collector wants to be a part of, and just owning a collection of original, early edition Burroughs is enough to satisfy the fan. If, however, you hanker for rare or special editions of his work - always try to get the editions with colour, good condition covers, early to first history of printing as possible.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan of the Apes. A. L. Burt Company New York (1915). Frontispiece With Silhouette By Fred J. Arting;
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Return Of Tarzan. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1915). With 26 Pictorial Headpieces By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Beasts of Tarzan. A. C. McClurg (1916). Frontispiece And Illustrations By J.Allen St. John; First Edition, First Issue WithPublished March, 1916. AndW.F. Hall Printing Company, Chicago On Bottom Of The Copyright Page; Total 19,500 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A Princess of Mars. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1917). Jacket And Five Sepia Plates Illustrated By Schoonover.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Son of Tarzan. McClure Co. (1917). First Issue WithW.F. Hall. At Bottom Of Copyright Page, And Lacking Dedication Leaf To Herbert Burroughs
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar. A.C. McClurg and Co. (1918).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Gods of Mars. Grosset and Dunlap,New York (1918). Dust Jacket Art By Frank Schoonover; Frontis By Schoonover.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Son of Tarzan. A. L. Burt Company New Year (1918). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Jungle Tales of Tarzan. Methuen and Co, Ltd, Leawood, Kansas (1919). 1St Printing With Publishers Imprint On Spine Panel Set In 3 Lines; Frontispiece Of Tarzan and Eagle Bird, Illustrated J. Allen St. John; Illutstrated Throughout Counted 14 Total.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Warlord of Mars. A. C. Mcclurg and Co (1919). Sepia Frontispiece By St. John; First Edition, First Printing Evidenced ByW.F. Hall Printing Company, Chicago On Copyright Page.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan the untamed. Methuen and Co, Ltd (1920). Frontispiece And 8 Illustrations By J. Allen St. John
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Thuvia, Maid of Mars. A.c. McClurg and Co (1920). Frontispiece And Interiors By St. John; First Edition, First Printing With 1920 On Copyright Page; 17,000 Copies.
Birroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan the Terrible. Methuen and Co, Ltd (1921). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John. Frontis, 9 Full Leaf Plates
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Mucker. Methuen (1921). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. At the Earths Core. A.C. McClurg and Co. (1922).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Pellucidar. A.C. McClurg and Co. (1923). 3 Monochrome Illustrations By J. Allen St. John
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Golden Lion. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1923). Frontispiece And 7 Illustrations By J. Allen St. John; The Ninth Tarzan Story.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Chessmen of Mars. Methuen and Co. (1923). With Frontispiece And Illustrations By J.Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Girl from Hollywood. Macaulay (1923). 1St Issue.Tarzon Mispelling On Title Page; Jacket Includes Ads ForThe Hawk Of Egypt,Smoke Of The .45,The Woman Tamer,Missing Men,The Secret Tomb AndRide Him, Cowboy!
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Ant Men. A. C. McClurg and Company, Chicago (1924). All Original Plates By J. Allen St. John; 10,000 Copies; First Edition, First State (With Publisher On Two Lines On Bottom Of Spine).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Golden Lion. Grosset and Dunlap (1924). Illustrated With Scenes From The Universal Photoplay Distributed By Film Booking Offices Of America;
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan Beiden Affen. Deick and Co., Stuttgart (1924). 1St German Editions Of Tarzan Od The Apes, Return Of Tarzan And The Beasts Of Tarzan.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Land That Time Forgot. A.C. McClurg and Co. (1924). Four St. John Illustrations
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. TARZAN AND THE ANT-MEN. Methuen and Co, Ltd (1925). Contains The Four Page ArticleHow Burroughs Wrote The Tarzan Tales By Robert H. Davis; First British Edition, First Printing.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Bandit of Hells Bend. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1925).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Cave Girl. A.C. McClurg (1925). 5,000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Eternal Lover. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1925). Inserted Frontispiece With Illustration By J. Allen St. John; 5,000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Moon Maid. A. C. McClurg (1926). Illustrated By St. John, J. Allen
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Bandit of Hells Bend. Methuen and Co. Ltd. (1926). Dust Jacket And Frontispiece By Modest Stein. First British Edition.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Mad King. A.C. McClurg and Co. (1926). Frontispiece With Illustration By J. Allen St. John; First Edition, First State Has Textual Errors On Pages 12 And 92 (Later Corrected With Cancel Leaves); 5,000 Copies Printed.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Outlaw of Torn. A.C. McClurg and Co. (1927). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John; 6000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Return of Tarzan. Grosset and Dunlap (1927). Cover By N. C. Wyeth; 26 Illustrations By J Allen St. John At Each Chapter Heading.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Tarzan Twins. P.F. Volland Co., Joliet, Illinois (1927). Illustrated By Douglas Grant.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. War Chief. A.c. McClurg and Co (1927). 6000 Copies Printed; Reproduction Of Painting By Paul Stahl On Front Panel
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan of the Jungle. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1928). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John; 5,000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Mastermind of Mars. Grosset and Dunlap (1928). Five Inserted Plates With Illustrations By J. Allen St. John; 5,000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tanar of Pellucidar. Metropolitan (1929).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Lost Empire. Metropolitan Books (1929). Frontispiece B/W Illustration And Color Jacket Illustration By A.W. Sperry.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Illustrated Tarzan Books No. 1. Grosset and Dunlap (1929). Picturized From The Novel Tarzan Of The Apes; Illustrated With 300 Pictures By Hal Foster.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Monster Men. A. C. McClurg and Co. (1929). The Front Full Color Dust-Wrapper Panel By St. John; 5000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tanar of Pellucidar. Grosset and Dunlap (1930). Frontispiece By Paul F. Berdanier.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan at the Earths Core. Metropolitan Books Inc. Publishers (1930). Frontispiece And Dj Illustrated By St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A Fighting Man of Mars. Metropolitan Books Publishers (1931). Frontispiece By Hugh Hutton.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Jungle Girl. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1931).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan the Invincible. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1931). Frontispiece And Jacket Illustration By Studley O. Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan Triumphant. Edgar Rice Burroughs Publishing, Tarzana (1931). Frontispiece And Four Plates By Studley O. Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Jungle girl. Grosset and Dunlap (1932). Six Inserted Plates With Illustrations By Studley O. Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan at the Earths Core. Metropolitan Books Publishers (1932). Inserted Frontispiece With Illustration By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan Triumphant. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzana (1932). Illustrations By Sudley Burroughs
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A Fighting Man of Mars. John Lane The Bodley Head (1933).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Apache Devil. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Tarzana (1933). Illustrations By Studley Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the City of Gold. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc, Publishers,, Tarzana (1933). J. Allen St. John (Illustrator).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan of the Apes. Whitman Publishing Company (1933). Big Little Book With Illustration Every Page.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Pirates of Venus. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1934). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Lion Man. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1934). black and white Frontispiece And 4 Additional Full Tipped In Plates By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Lost on Venus. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1935). Five Full Page Illustration By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Leopard Men. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1935). Illustrated By J. Allen St John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The New Adventures of TarzanPop-Up. Pleasure Books, Inc. (1935). Illustrated By Stephen Slesinger; With Three Color Pop-Ups; First Edition. Issued In Conjunction With The 1935 Motion Picture Starring Bruce Bennett (Credited As Herman Brix), Ula Holt, And Frank Baker. Not In Heins.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Swords of Mars. Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., Tarzana (1936). Five Inserted Plates With Illustrations By J. Allen St. John
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the City of Gold. John Lane, the Bodley Head (1936).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzans Quest. Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., Tarzana (1936). Frontispiece And Dj Cover By St. John
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Back To The Stone Age. Burroughs Publishing, Tarzana (1937). Frontispiece And 6 Illustrations By John Coleman Burroughs
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Oakdale Affair/The Rider. Burroughs, Tarzana (1937). Illustrated With 2 Plates By John Coleman Burroughs
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Forbidden City. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzana (1938). B/W Frontispiece By Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzans Quest. Methuen (1938). White Frontispiece Are By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Lad and the Lion. Edgar Rice Burroughs , Inc, Tarzana (1938).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Carson of Venus. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Tarzana (1939). With Frontispiece And Illustrations By John Coleman Burroughs; StatesFirst Edition On The Copyright Page.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE TARZAN CLANS OF AMERICA. Tarzan Clans of America, Tarzana (1939). Handbook For A Planned But Never Launced Boy-Scout Like Movement Based On Burroughs Tarzan Books. The Entire Contents Of This Booklet, Including The Four-PageDictionary Of The Ape Language Were Written By Burroughs.
Burroughs Edgar Rice. Tarzan the Magnificent. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzana (1939). Illustrated By John Coleman Burroughs
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. THE MASTER MIND OF MARS. Methuen (1939). Artwork By Micklewright
Rice Burroughs, Edgar. Deputy Sheriff of Comanche County. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc, Tarzana (1940). Illustrated By John Coleman Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Synthetic Men of Mars. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Tarzana (1940). Jacket, Frontispiece And Interiors By John Coleman Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Deputy Sheriff of Comanche County. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1940). Illustrations And Jacket Cover By John Coleman Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Land of Terror. Burroughs, Tarzana (1944). First Edition With Jacket By John Coleman Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Escape on Venus. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1946). Includes Five Illustrations By John Coleman Burroughs; This Is The Fouth Venus Title And Consists Of Four Interconnected Stories Published In Fantasic Adventures Between 1941 And 1942:Slaves Of The Fishmen,Goddess Of Fire,The Living Dead, AndWar On Venus.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan andThe Foreign Legion. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzana (1947). Illustrated By John Coleman Burroughs
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Llana of Gathol. Edgar Rice Burrough, Inc, Tarzana (1948). The Tenth Novel In Burroughs Barsoom Series; Frontispiece And 4 Monochrome Plates By John Coleman Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. THE GIRL FROM FARRISS. Wilma, Tacoma (1959). Total 250 Copies; 80 Paper Bound; 20 Copies Bound InBlack Leatherette; 150 Numbered Hardcover Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Back to the Stone Age. Canaveral Press (1963). Dust Cover By Sam Sigaloff; Seven Interior Illustrations By John Coleman Burroughs.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Land of Terror. Canaveral Press (1963). Illustrated By Roy G. Krenkel.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Lost on Venus. Canaveral Press (1963). Illustrations By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Savage pellucidar. Canaveral Press (1963). Illustrated By J. Allen St. John.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins. Canaveral Press (1963). Frontispiece And Interior Illustrations By Roy G. Krenkel; First Complete Book Edition Of The Tarzan Twins Saga.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. TARZAN of the Apes. Ballantine Books (1963). The Full Titles Are: Book (1) One: Tarzan Of The Apes; Book (2) Two: The Return Of Tarzan; Book (3) Three: The Beasts Of Tarzan; Book Four: The Son Of Tarzan; Book (5) Five: Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar; Book (6) Six: Jungle Tales Of Tarzan; Book (7) Seven: Tarzan The Untamed; Book (8) Eight: Tarzan The Terrible; Book (9) Nine: Tarzan And The Golden Lion; Book (10) Ten: Tarzan And The Ant Men; Book (11) Eleven: Tarzan Lord Of The Jungle; Book (12) Twelve: Tarzan And The Lost Empire; Book (13) Thirteen: Tarzan At The Earths Core; Book (14) Fourteen: Tarzan The Invincible; Book (15) Fifteen: Tarzan Triumphant; Book (16) Sixteen: Tarzan And The City Of Gold; Book (17) Seventeen: Tarzan And The Lion Man; Book (18) Eighteen: Tarzan And The Leopard Men; Book (19) Nineteen: Tarzans Quest; Book (20) Twenty: Tarzan And The Forbidden City; Book (21) Twenty-One: Tarzan The Magnificent; Book (22) Twenty-Two: Tarzan And The Foreign Legion; Book (23) Twenty-Three: Tarzan And The Manman; Book (24) Twenty-Four: Tarzan And The Castaways; And Book (25) Twenty-Five: Tarzan And The Valley Of Gold By Fritz Leiber; Along With Tarzan Alive By Philip Jose Farmer.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS. Donald M. Grant, West Kingston (1964). Compiled And Edited By Heins, Henry Hardy; Dust Wrapper Artwork By J. Allen St. John; 1000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. JOHN CARTER OF MARS. Canaveral Press (1964).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tales of Three Planets. Canaveral Press (1964). An Anthology Collecting Three Stories, Beyond The Farthest Star, The Resurrection Of Jimber-Jaw, And The Wizard Of Venus; Dust Jacket And Interior Illustrations By Roy Krenkel; Text Drawings By Burne Hogarth .
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Madman. Canaveral Press (1964). The Dust Jacket And 8 Interior Illustrations Are By Reed Crandall;Never Before Published On The Cover Of The Dust Jacket.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Castaways. Canaveral Press (1965).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Efficiency Expert. House of Greystoke, Kansas City (1966).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. I am a Barbarian. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Tarzana (1967). Small Dust Jacket Illustration By Jeff Jones; Illustrated By John Coleman Burroughs; Total 2,000 Copies.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Mars Series. Nelson Doubleday, Garden City (1970). 11 Books In The Mars Series In 6 Book Club Volumes Published In The 1970S With Illustrations By Frank Frazetta And Richard Corben; Titles Include A Princess Of Mars; Thuvia, Maid Of Mars And The Chessmen Of Mars; The Gods Of Mars And The Warlord Of Mars; The Mastermind Of Mars And A Fighting Man Of Mars; The Swords Of Mars And Synthetic Men Of Mars; And Llana Of Gathol And John Carter Of Mars (Set Of 6 Books)
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan and the Castaways. Canaveral Press (1975). Tarzans Latest Adventure,Tarzan And The Champion And Tarzan And The Jungle Murders.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Edgar Rice Burroughs Library of Illustration. Russ Cochran, West Plains, Missouri (1976). Total 2,000 Numbered Copies; Color Work Of J. Allen St. John; 3 Volumes; Cochran, Russ (Editor).
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Burne Hogarths The Golden Age of Tarzan. Chelsea House Publishers (1977). 2000 Copies; Reprints In Full Color The Tarzan Comics Illustrated By Hogarth; Laid In Is The Large Sheet Published By Russ Cochran Featuring A Large Page From A Hogarth Illustrated Tarzan Story; Horn, Maurice, Editor.