I have no idea as to the book's value, however, it looks to be a compilation of booklets by the author Fred J. Melville. Here's his picture:

A brief biography follows:
Quote:
MELVILLE, Frederick John d.1940 age 57. Educated Westminster. Famous as philatelic author and journalist. Founded Junior Philatelic Society in 1899, was President from its inception until his death, and edited the Stamp Lover. Served on the juries of many philatelic exhibitions at home and abroad. Awarded Congress Cup at PCGB Bath 1935, for his paper 'The Lives of the Forgers'. RDP 1921. Among his prolific writings were 'The ABC of Stamp Collecting', 'Chats on Postage Stamps', the series of twenty-eight 'Melville Stamp Books', 1908-36, each devoted to an individual country, and his final work 'Modern Stamp Collecting' [1940]. A bibliography, by LN & M Williams, of the Melville oeuvre, appeared in the Stamp Lover, January - May 1941, and was afterwards reprinted as a booklet. Outside philately, he had been editor of the Heartsease Library, Cosy Corner, Good Words, and the Sunday Magazine.
For further reading, check out these links:
http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1...&tid=2040925http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Melville