THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR

New York and Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, 1969. First printing. About fine in near-fine jacket.. Rare first edition copy of this landmark picture book with an entirely intact dust jacket priced at $4.25 - i.e. not price clipped. Carle's legendary picture book has always been found price clipped in the first edition - including even the author's own copy (ref. Grolier 100) - until this copy was discovered. It likely escaped that fate because it was never offered for sale; for decades it lived in the personal collection of a former employee of the World Publishing Company. While contemporary publication notices in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY clearly state a list price of $4.25, first issue copies of the book are only seen with the corners of the front flap clipped, either with an additional sticker priced at $3.95, or without. The jacket on this copy carries the original printed price of $4.25 making it a tremendously rare complete, unaltered copy - and further confirming the theory that the entire run was price-clipped in order to lower the list price. In all other particulars, it matches the bibliographic points of other first edition copies. A bright, whimsical, and subtly sophisticated book already scarce in this condition, this copy is the ne plus ultra: an unbeatable high spot in the history of children's books. 8.25'' x 11.25''. Original glossy paper pictorial boards. Original unclipped ("$4.25" top; "$3.97 / WLB" bottom) pictorial dust jacket. Multi-color illustrated endpapers. Illustrated in color throughout. Full number line; "A3450" at bottom gutter corner of rear board and jacket panel. [24] pages, including four shortened pages of fruits. Housed in custom cloth clamshell box mimicking the jacket design. Book beautiful, with just a touch of bumping and slightest bit of toning to some leaves. Jacket with a few faint areas of soiling, remarkably little edgewear.