Vintage 1934 Talking Leaves Hardcover – How to Identify American Trees

Vintage 1934 hardcover Talking Leaves by Julius King, a beautifully illustrated tree identification guide featuring U.S. species and pressed leaves inside. Published in 1934 by The Harter Publishing Company of Cleveland, Ohio, Talking Leaves: How to Identify American Trees by Julius King is a compact and visually engaging natural history guide. Illustrated by Evan Thurber, it presents 59 familiar American tree species—each with detailed line drawings, green-toned leaf plates, distribution maps, and concise botanical descriptions. The title “Talking Leaves” refers to an early Native American term for books—an apt name for a volume that lets the trees “speak” through their foliage. The guide explains how to match found leaves to illustrations, estimate their size using a grid system, and learn about each species’ growth range and typical form. This particular copy bears the previous owner’s name handwritten in pen on the title page, with occasional checkmarks and notes throughout. A few actual dried leaves remain tucked between pages—pressed decades ago beside their matching illustrations—and will be left in place for the next owner. The spine is slightly separated. Hardcover, 64 pages. Condition: Good vintage condition. Some edge wear and scuffing to cover, mild separation at inner spine, and light toning to pages. Owner’s inscription and a few checkmarks throughout; dried leaves remain tucked inside as found. All pages secure and illustrations vivid.