Instruction Manual

[Don Turley]

1) All original Instruction Books have the "Ford" oval on the front cover the same size as the "Ford" oval on the inside first page. Some of the reprints, especially the 1931 versions, have a small oval on the cover but no other indication that it is a reprint. But note, that just because the two ovals are the same size does not mean that it is original. There are some reprints with both ovals the same size, but usually there is some indication or statement that it is a reprint. Some of the more recent reprints have the year in big bold print on the inside first page.
2) All original books have a double line border near the edges on the front cover. If it has a single line, it is a reprint.
3) Original books have slick semi-gloss pages and the illustrations are distinct. Reprints with dull pages usually look blurred.
4) Some of the versions were never reprinted. Usually only one or two versions of each year. When you've become familiar with them all, you can spot the versions that have never been reproduced and know that it has to be an original.

The "Restoration Guidelines & Judging Standards" mentions 13 versions. There were variations of many of these versions. I have been collecting these books for over 20 years and have 25 different USA books, and several foreign versions.