2002 Scarce Signed First Edition - The Meaning of Mice by Charles van Sandwyk

Author: Charles van Sandwyk.
Title: The Painter Mouse Presents the Meaning of Mice (translated for humans by Charles van Sandwyk).
Publisher: North Vancouver, The Fairy Press (a division of Charles van Sandwyk Fine Arts), 2002. Limited to 2,000 copies printed offset.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5" x 4".
Pages: Accordion-style fold-out (coppertina) with illustrations and text on one side. Unpaginated (11 panels).
Binding: Attractive and fine original green stiff paper boards (wrap-around), with pastedown title and illustration of mice on the front cover (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Fine content (bright, tight, and clean, signed by Charles van Sandwyk on the inside of the front cover - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with all the beautiful illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk.

Estimate: Scarce signed example, with few copies available on the market.

The book: A charming signed first edition featuring the beloved “Painter Mouse,” presented in an accordion-style format that unfolds into a continuous illustrated sequence. Through gentle humor and delicate artwork, van Sandwyk explores themes of family, identity, and belonging, making this a particularly appealing example of his imaginative and finely crafted small-format books.

The author: Charles van Sandwyk is a Canadian artist and author known for his whimsical illustrations and finely crafted books. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1966, he moved to Vancouver, Canada at a young age. Influenced by early 20th-century illustrators, his work evokes a sense of nostalgia and enchantment, often featuring animals, fairies, and other fantastical subjects. His works are widely collected, and he has notably illustrated editions for the Folio Society. He divides his time between British Columbia and a remote Fijian island, where the natural environment deeply informs his art.