Where the Wild Things Are by Sendak, Maurice - 1963

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1892.. Publishers quarter vellum and boards, t.e.g., others untrimmed. Binding somewhat soiled and worn, former owner's bookplate, otherwise a very good copy. Cloth folding box. First edition, limited issue. One of an unknown number of out of series copies, unnumbered, in addition to 250 numbered copies, signed by the publisher. In this copy, on a sheet of matching handmade paper inserted in place of the front free endsheet Field has neatly copied out his poem, "Little Boy Blue," in red and black ink, in his diminutive hand, with rubricated initials at the beginning of each stanza and two small hand-colored drawings (a toy soldier and a toy lamb) in the margins. Beneath the poem is his presentation inscription, which reads: "For My Dearest and Most Beautiful Julia, Ever yours devotedly, / Eugene Field." On integral blank leaves at the back of the volume the author has written out his poem, "Dutch Lullaby" (beginning "Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night / Sailed off in… Read More

London: printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1791. Second Edition. Vellum. Fine. First Edition illustrated by William Blake (and first to carry Wollstonecraft's name on title page) of this didactic collection of stories for children. 12mo: viii,[4],177,[3,advertisements]pp, with six full-page copper-engraved plates (including frontispiece) designed and engraved by William Blake. No half-title, as issued. According to Easson & Essick, there are two states of the plates, but only a few copies have the first state; some are a mixture. Windle, however, has identified a third state and notes that Bentley believes the plates were optional in both the 1791 and 1796 editions. A superb copy, newly rebound by Fitterer in full vellum with salmon pink morocco lettering piece gilt. Light offsetting from plates, very minor foxing, else clean and bright in a very pretty pristine binding. Bentley 421A. Bibliotheca Bibliographici 596. Windle A3b. Ashley Library IX, p 157 and X, p. 219 ("first… Read More

First Trade Edition. One of 1000 copies published in May of 1888. Illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacob Hood. Original Japanese vellum pictorial boards - rubbed, small stain at foot of spine, endpapers discolored by binder's glue, else internally clean. Very Good in a great custom folding-case. A solid copy of a title that's rare in nice original condition.
A work that bolstered Wilde's fame and which he described as "partly for children, and partly for those who have kept the childlike faculties of wonder and joy, and who find in simplicity a subtle strangeness."

Louis Janet. Paris. ND. circa 1875. Third edition. Small 8vo. (5.9 x 4.4 inches). xvi, 157pp. Thirteen hand coloured illustrated plates (including extra title page) with movable pull tabs to change the image. An asterisk next to the text tells when the movable should be used to animate the scene. A crease to the top of the half title page and a few minor thumb marks to a handful of leaves, otherwise a very good, fresh and clean copy in the publishers red morocco-grained cloth with blind stamped decorative border to both boards. Gilt lettering to the front board. Coated mid brown endpapers. All edges gilt. A superior copy of this rare movable. First issued in 1831, there was a second issue in 1837 and then this third, circa 1875, with the text printed by Ducessios of Paris. All three printings are rare, and copies in such good condition and with all tabs present and easily workable, as this one even more so. Sometimes described as the first interactive book published, this is certainly the first to use… Read More

[RACKHAM, Arthur]. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Translated by Mrs. Edgar Lucas. London: Constable & Company, 1909. 4to, xvi 326pp. Velum pictorially stamped in gilt; t.e.g. 40 mounted color plates with tissue guards and numerous b&w illustrations. Spine lightly sunned, light rubbing to covers, silk ties missing, plate at frontispiece bearing small crease at lower right corner, else a remarkably bright, tight copy in custom-made slipcase (a bit worn). Signed by the artist, Arthur Rackham.
First edition, limited issue, being one of 750 copies signed by the artist. A wonderful collection of fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm featuring the spectacular illustrations of Arthur Rackham. This is the subject matter that brought out the best in Rackham. A lavishly illustrated limited edition and a showpiece for any collection!

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1892.. Publishers quarter vellum and boards, t.e.g., others untrimmed. Binding somewhat soiled and worn, former owner's bookplate, otherwise a very good copy. Cloth folding box. First edition, limited issue. One of an unknown number of out of series copies, unnumbered, in addition to 250 numbered copies, signed by the publisher. In this copy, on a sheet of matching handmade paper inserted in place of the front free endsheet Field has neatly copied out his poem, "Little Boy Blue," in red and black ink, in his diminutive hand, with rubricated initials at the beginning of each stanza and two small hand-colored drawings (a toy soldier and a toy lamb) in the margins. Beneath the poem is his presentation inscription, which reads: "For My Dearest and Most Beautiful Julia, Ever yours devotedly, / Eugene Field." On integral blank leaves at the back of the volume the author has written out his poem, "Dutch Lullaby" (beginning "Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night / Sailed off in… Read More

London: printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1791. Second Edition. Vellum. Fine. First Edition illustrated by William Blake (and first to carry Wollstonecraft's name on title page) of this didactic collection of stories for children. 12mo: viii,[4],177,[3,advertisements]pp, with six full-page copper-engraved plates (including frontispiece) designed and engraved by William Blake. No half-title, as issued. According to Easson & Essick, there are two states of the plates, but only a few copies have the first state; some are a mixture. Windle, however, has identified a third state and notes that Bentley believes the plates were optional in both the 1791 and 1796 editions. A superb copy, newly rebound by Fitterer in full vellum with salmon pink morocco lettering piece gilt. Light offsetting from plates, very minor foxing, else clean and bright in a very pretty pristine binding. Bentley 421A. Bibliotheca Bibliographici 596. Windle A3b. Ashley Library IX, p 157 and X, p. 219 ("first… Read More

First Trade Edition. One of 1000 copies published in May of 1888. Illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacob Hood. Original Japanese vellum pictorial boards - rubbed, small stain at foot of spine, endpapers discolored by binder's glue, else internally clean. Very Good in a great custom folding-case. A solid copy of a title that's rare in nice original condition.
A work that bolstered Wilde's fame and which he described as "partly for children, and partly for those who have kept the childlike faculties of wonder and joy, and who find in simplicity a subtle strangeness."

SEUSS, Dr. The Cat in the Hat. [NY]: Random House [1957]. 8vo, [ii] 62pp. Color pictorial boards. Color pictorial endpapers; color illustrations on every page. Minute wear to spine ends and corners, slight foxing to interior edges of boards, hinges mended, else a clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (light wear to corners and edges, minute scratching to front and some light soiling to rear).
First edition, first state (Younger/Hirsch #7). Challenged by Josh Hersey to create a basic reader that would be far more appealing to children than "Dick and Jane" and other such standard fare, Seuss created a classic that sold over a million copies in its first few years and went on to become one of the most beloved children's books of the 20th century. Named to both School Library Journal's Top 100 Picture Books of all time and The National Education Association's list of Teacher's Top 100 Books for children, it would be hard to find an American child or adult today who did not know The… Read More

[RACKHAM, Arthur]. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Translated by Mrs. Edgar Lucas. London: Constable & Company, 1909. 4to, xvi 326pp. Velum pictorially stamped in gilt; t.e.g. 40 mounted color plates with tissue guards and numerous b&w illustrations. Spine lightly sunned, light rubbing to covers, silk ties missing, plate at frontispiece bearing small crease at lower right corner, else a remarkably bright, tight copy in custom-made slipcase (a bit worn). Signed by the artist, Arthur Rackham.
First edition, limited issue, being one of 750 copies signed by the artist. A wonderful collection of fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm featuring the spectacular illustrations of Arthur Rackham. This is the subject matter that brought out the best in Rackham. A lavishly illustrated limited edition and a showpiece for any collection!