Josephine by Kathleen Coyle - February, 1942

New York: Parker and Brothers, February, 1942. First edition stated, First printing via letter system. ORIGINAL UNCLIPPED DUST JACKET. NEAR FINE/VERY GOOD. Peggy Bacon. HATFIELD BOOKS AND MEMORABILIA, a FIVE STAR SELLER, presents a Rare First Printing ofJOSEPHINE by KATHLEEN COYLE, the book which first introduces us to the new heroine, Josephine the cat. Born in New York, but brought up in Ireland, KATHLEEN COYLE became involved in the socialist movement. Under the name Selma Sigerson, Coyle co-wrote a pamphlet entitled Sinn Fein and socialism with James Connolly that was published in 1919. PEGGY BACON was a very prolific artist, and illustrated over 60 books, 19 of which she also wrote, including a successful mystery book, The Inward Eye, which was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe award in 1952 for best novel. 5 5/8" x 8 1/4", 174 page hard cover, with ORIGINAL UNCLIPPED DUST JACKET. Overall condition of the book is NEAR FINE. Pages = Near Fine: non author dedication on front reverse cover (to Marie Belk, daughter of Henry Belk, newspaper editor and civic leader in Goldsboro, NC), slight tanning, else very clear, sharp, tight, with no additional marks. Cover (blue cloth boards with particulars in gold gilt and black on pink square background (on spine only) = Near Fine: staining and rubbing to spine, front and back both slightly bent out from pages, else very tight, sharp, colorful and square. ORIGINAL DUST JACKET (green paper with Peggy Bacon sketch and particulars in white and black) = Very Good: sizable chips to top edge, small chips bottom, rubbing to spine, else whole, clear, colorful, no tears. Noted book appraiser JAMES BEATTIE has assigned this copy a value of $85.00.