THE STORY OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE by Lofting, Hugh - 1920

New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1920. Near fine. First edition of this adventure-fantasy children's classic, the first of Dolittle's many adventures in talking to animals - in lovely condition. Since his debut in this title, DOCTOR DOLITTLE has graced stage, screen, radio, and even video games with his kindly, bumbling presence. Although Hugh Lofting and his story are very British, this US edition was published four years before the UK edition. The world beyond England's shores is framed as curious, exotic, and often dangerous, reflecting the colonialist ideals of contemporary white Britons; key plot points revolve around caricatured Black native populations. Adaptations have kept the character alive into the 21st century through the fantasy shared by many of being able to talk to animals.
This copy came from the Bookshop for Boys and Girls, a division of the Boston Women's Educational and Industrial Union. The Bookshop is best known for its banner publication, THE HORN BOOK, a beloved source of children's books recommendations. This copy's child owner was particularly careful with it: its binding is notably clean and bright. 8'' x 5.25''. Original orange cloth binding with color pictorial paste-on and blue lettering and embellishments. Pictorial endleaves of silhouettes of the Doctor and his animal friends. Full-page color frontispiece with black-and-white illustrations throughout. 180 pages. Bookplate of "The Bookshop for Boys and Girls" to front flyleaf. Ownership inscription to reverse of frontispiece, dated December 1920. Corners and spine ends mildly bumped, else fine. Sharp and bright.