Mrs Malone : The True First issue : Signed By The Author

The First UK printing published by Michael Joseph Ltd, London in 1950. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Unpaginated, stapled booklet. Illustrations (on very page) in red by David Knight. Light beige printed card wraps with black titles and red decoration to the front. French flaps not clipped with correct price 1/6 net. Some light toning to the card wrapper edges. Contents clean and bright. Staples clean. The first issue of this narrative poem about Mrs. Malone, an old hermit who lives in the woods, who welcomes all the animals that seek shelter at her door, and when she dies is welcomed by St. Peter to Heaven. Signed and inscribed by the author to the half-title : 'For Bertha Hagart from her loving Eleanor Farjeon. Christmas 1953.' It seems likely that Bertha Hagart (later Rose) was the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) trained, South African pianist, who was active professionally both in South Africa and Britain in the 1950s. If this is the case, it also seems probable that Hagart and Farjeon met through the author's elder brother Harry, who taught at RAM for 45 years. The book is protected in a removable Mylar archival cover. A very handsome production and now very scarce as such as the true first issue. A later edition was published in 1962 by OUP which was illustrated by Edward Ardizzone. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.