Victory Gardens (1942)

First Edition of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Guidance on Victory Gardens, 1942

Boswell, Victor R. Victory Gardens. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1942.

Thin octavo. Softcover. 1st Edition.

First edition of this concise pamphlet on starting a Victory Garden, published in 1942 at the height of World War II, attempting to convince Americans to grow their own vegetables. Despite its diminutive size, this pamphlet offers detailed instructions for how to grow a Victory Garden on several sizes of lot, including spacing, planting times, and listings of more successful vegetable varieties. During World War II, when rationing and shortages made food scarcer, Victory Gardens were an outstanding way for average citizens to feed themselves and contribute to the war effort. (Erasable) early price written in pencil on front wrapper. Slight toning to wrappers, three-inch closed tear to fragile rear wrapper. A near-fine copy. Quite rare.