wind willows kenneth von grahame, Signiert (3 Ergebnisse)

First edition illustrated by Rackham. Large 4to. Number 1411 of 2,020 copies, signed by Bruce Rogers, the book's designer. Cream cloth spine with gilt lettering, paper covered boards with patterned design, preserved in publisher's glassine and green card slipcase. Top edge gilt. Publisher's pamphlet explaining the context of the book's publication loosely inserted. A fine copy, two tiny closed tears to the bottom of page 120, in a chipped glassine and a very good slipcase. Sixteen colour illustrations by Rackham. Introduction by A. A. Milne. This was Rackham's last project and he worked on the watercolours through illness and up to his death. It is the only one of his major works to be first published posthumously. This edition of the book is the only one to include all sixteen colour illustrations, as the first trade and the English edition (published some eleven years later) features only twelve colour illustrations. Grahame initially wanted Arthur Rackham to illustrate The Wind In The Willows, but Rackham declined. Around thirty years later, Elspeth invited Rackham for a walk along the Thames to view the many places and sights which inspired the stories lovingly created by her now deceased husband (d. 1932). He finally accepted and, amid the outbreak of WWII and personal illness, prepared a series of sixteen illustrations and several line drawings for the tale. This was his last project. Upon completion, the dying artist is said to have sunk into his pillow and said: "Thank goodness, that is the last one" (Hares-Stryker). His drawings were published posthumously in this limited first edition.

First edition, Deluxe edition signed by both A.A. Milne and Kenneth Grahame, number 17 of only 200 copies. White boards and blue cloth spine, printed paper label on upper cover and spare label present. Printed on handmade paper with only top edge trimmed. Original cream dustwrapper with printed titles. A fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper with slight spotting to the upper panel and some minor wear to the head of the spine.

signed as Secretary, 3¼" x 1¼", no place, no date.