1931 True French First Edition - Histoire de Babar le Petit Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff.
(Description)
Author: Jean de Brunhoff.
Title: HISTOIRE de BABAR le petit éléphant.
Publisher: Paris, Edition du Jardin des Modes, 1931. True First Edition, first printing with 1931 on the copyright page and without the elephant logo on the same copyright page as it should be for the true first edition.
Language: Text in French.
Size: Large Folio 14.5 "X 10.5 ".
Pages: 47 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher's blue cloth with pictorial boards (hinges fine, overall scuffed and slightly worn - as shown, outer corners worn - as shown, small black stain on the outer margin of front cover - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, small ink stamp of a previous owner in the outer corner of the first endpaper - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with all the wonderful color illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff.
Estimate: (USD 750 - USD 1500)
The book: Attractive and rare TRUE FIRST French EDITION of Babar the Elephant -- an elephant character who first appeared here, in 1931, in the French children's book Histoire de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff.
The book is based on a tale that Brunhoff's wife, Cécile, had invented for their children. It tells of a young elephant, named Babar, whose mother is killed by a hunter. Babar escapes, and in the process leaves the jungle in exile, visits a big city, and returns to bring the benefits of civilization to his fellow elephants. Just as he returns to his community of elephants, their king dies from eating a bad mushroom. Because of his travels and civilization, Babar is chosen king of the elephant kingdom. He marries his cousin, Celeste, and they subsequently have children and teach them valuable lessons.
The author: Jean de Brunhoff (9 December 1899 – 16 October 1937) was a French writer and illustrator remembered best for creating the Babar series of children's books concerning a fictional elephant, the first of which was published in 1931.