F I N E B O O K S & M A N U S C R I P T S
IN ORIGINAL DUSTWRAPPER
26. The Wind In The Willows GRAHAME, Kenneth
Methuen, 1908. First edition. Original blue-green cloth with gilt vignettes and titles to the spine and upper cover, in original brown dustwrapper printed in blue. Top edge gilt. Publisher’s advertisement leaf loosely inserted. Striking black and white frontis- piece by Graham Robertson. A superb near fine copy, crisp and bright with just trivial wear and some internal foxing and browning in a dustwrapper with meaningful pro- fessional restoration to spine and minor reinforcement to edges and joints. [41790] £60,000 The Wind in the Willows began life as a series of bedtime stories told to his son Alastair. Upon retiring from his position as secretary of the Bank of England, Grahame returned to Cookham where he had grown up and set about composing the stories into a full length novel. The book was rejected by several publishers, in one case with the memorable response, “An irresponsible holiday story that will never sell.” On publication the book was well received without being a runaway success, but demand was sufficient to spawn a series of editions illustrated by different artists. It is now one of the most affectionately and highly regarded children’s books of all time. It is original dustwrapper (distinguishable from later printings which show 7/6 on the front panel), this ranks as one of the great rarities of 20th-century literature and a keystone book in any collection of children’s literature. Osborne p. 349; Grolier Children’s 61 PROVENANCE: I.D. Margary (bookplate to front pastedown).
33
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker