The World is Round

New York: William R. Scott Inc., 1939. Hardback. Fair. FIRST US EDITION. Small 4to, pp. [iv], 67, [1], incl. Hurd's charming illustrations in white and navy. Cream buckram spine, lettered in blue, navy paper boards, upper board lettered in white. Endpapers plus first and final pages white, text block pink, lettered in navy (at Stein's insistence). Externally shabby: worn, significant losses to spine ends, corners rounded. Endpapers and dedication page toned, liquid stain to top margins of first few leaves, grubby fingers marks, else, clean and tight. Fair. A binder's copy of Stein's only children's book, which had been helped into print by Margaret Wise Brown (whose own writing was influenced by Stein). Brown (1910-1952) had been hired in 1938 as W. R. Scott's first editor and tasked with recruiting contemporary authors to write children's books (she would herself go on to be a prolific and celebrated children's author). Stein, who was already at work on The World is Round, accepted with certain demands. While the book was printed in blue ink on pink paper, the publisher insisted on an in-house illustrator, rather than Stein's choice of Francis Rose. Clement Hurd (1908-1988) and Brown would go on to work successfully together. The World is Round follows Rose, a girl seeking her place in the world. In a press statement for her book, Stein advised readers: "Don't bother about the commas which aren't there, read the words. Don't worry about the sense that is there, read the words. If you have any trouble, read faster and faster until you don't." A limited edition of 350 copies, signed by both Gertrude Stein and Clement Hurd, was issued in a slip case.