Methuen and Co, London, 1908
First Edition, First Printing: An elegant, near fine copy of this landmark rare title in beautiful condition with the exceedingly scarce original dust jacket in the second state. This title is one of the essential classics of children’s literature.
The book has near fine/fine blue/green cloth boards in with strong and vibrant detailed gilt image to the front and titles to the spine. Original end papers present with no bookstore stamps, no book plates, no owner names and no inscriptions. The binding is tight and square and the book has no edgewear. All the pages are present including the tissue guard to the front. The internal pages are overall clean with some foxing to the first few pages, and the outer page block, Otherwise, internally very clean with no stains, and no handling marks. The pages of the book have very rough-cut edges as published, with a gilt top stain applied to the top edge. Please see the many detailed images.
The copy offered here is accompanied by the very scarce first edition, second state jacket, with the 7/6 price to the front panel. [The first state dust jacket for this title is impossible to locate and virtually nonexistent. In the past 45 years there have only been nine copies in first issue jackets sold at auction where they have commanded premium prices. The first state jacket bears the price of 6- net to the front panel and one such example is listed for sale with heavy restoration to the jacket and is still listed for over $85,000.] The copy offered here is accompanied by the scarce first edition, second state jacket, with the 7/6 price to the front panel. The jacket benefited from restoration by an expert conservator mostly limited to the upper spine, and as such presents in near fine/very good condition. The jacket has no rips, no chips, and but a bit of soft creasing.
A very handsome copy. Presents well on the shelf and is the best priced copy in the original jacket offered anywhere.
