J O N K E R S R A R E B O O K S
A.A. Milne’s Copy of The Wind In The Willows
45. The Wind In The Willows With an Introduction by A.A. Milne. RACKHAM, Arthur; GRAHAME, Kenneth
Methuen, 1951. First UK Rackham edition, the deluxe issue. One of 500 copies, this copy issued out of series and presented by the publishers to A. A. Milne, inscribed, “A presentation copy to A. A. Milne Esq, Out of series”. Original full white calf lettered in gilt. Housed in the original publisher’s slipcase. Twelve beautiful mounted colour plates with captions printed below, as well as many line drawings. A very good copy indeed, very slight surface wear to the spine. [42977] £6,750 An exceptional association copy of the 100th edition of The Wind In The Willows , presented by the publishers to A. A. Milne, who contributed a new introduction for this edition. Milne was a great supporter of the book and of Grahame, successfully adapting the story for the stage in 1929 with Toad Of Toad Hall . His introduction to the present volume is a tour de force, recommending the book without exception and beyond dispute, reminding the reader that if they do not like The Wind In The Willows it is not Kenneth Grahame’s fault, it is their own. By the time this book was published in 1951, A. A. Milne was its sole surviving contributor. Ken- neth Grahame had been dead nearly twenty years, and Rackham had been dead twelve, leaving Milne’s ownership as the greatest possible association copy of the book.
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