The Head with the Long Yellow Hair Jane Dolinger 1958 1st Ed DJ
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
The Head with the Long Yellow Hair
By Jane Dolinger
First Published 1958
Copyright © Jane Dolinger 1958
Published by Robert Hale Limited, 63 Old Brompton Road, London S.W.7
Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay and Company Ltd., Bungay, Suffolk
Illustrated with 22 photographic illustrations on plates, as called for, all present and complete.
 
This is the true first edition, confirmed by:
Copyright 1958
“First Published 1958” statement
No later printing indication
Inclusion in publisher’s “Important New Books” list
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
This remarkable mid-20th century adventure narrative documents Jane Dolinger’s extraordinary expedition into Jivaro and Aushiri territory in Ecuador in search of the mysterious “head with the long yellow hair”, a shrunken blonde head said to be held by the Jivaro.
 
Published during the golden era of post-war exploration writing, the book reflects a period when female travel writers were still rare, and Dolinger’s fearless immersion into remote indigenous communities set her apart.
 
The volume captures:
First-hand ethnographic encounters
Accounts of head-shrinking rituals
Exploration of Inca ruins and emerald legends
Mid-century South American exploration culture
 
Adventure narratives with authentic photographic plates from this period remain highly collectible.
 
About the Author
Jane Dolinger (born 1933) was an American explorer and travel writer specialising in South American expeditions.
 
Her work blends autobiographical adventure with ethnographic reportage. Collectors value her books for their vivid narrative voice and authentic field photography.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
Bound in original green cloth with gilt lettering to the spine.
The original unclipped dust jacket is present, showing the publisher’s price.
 
The jacket features:
Striking colour illustration of the shrunken head
Author portrait and biography on the rear
Promotional inner flap text
 
Condition of jacket:
Small edge rips
Light creasing
Rubbing and marks
Some tanning
 
The cloth boards beneath remain strong and robust with:
Light wear only
Slight lean to spine
Small dent to top edge of rear board
 
Overall strong shelf presence.
 
Interior Condition
Pages are lightly tanned, with slightly darker toning to pastedowns and endpapers.
Otherwise:
Clean and predominantly uncreased
No inscriptions
No rips
No foxing of significance
Tightly bound throughout
All x. + 189 pages present and accounted for.
All 22 photographic illustrations on plates present as listed.
A very well-preserved example internally.
 
Physical Details
X. + 189 pages
22 photographic plates
22.5 x 15 x 3.1 cm
Approx. 463g
 
Rarity & Collector Notes
First editions of Dolinger’s works are less commonly encountered than later travel reprints, particularly:
In original unclipped dust jacket
With all photographic plates present
In clean internal condition
 
Mid-century female exploration narratives have seen renewed collector interest.
This copy offers:
True first edition status
Complete plates
Original jacket
Strong structural condition
 
An attractive and desirable copy.