1950 First UK Arthur Rackham Illustrated Edition - The Wind in the Willows
A charming 1950 First British Arthur Rackham Illustrated Edition of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved classic The Wind in the Willows, featuring Rackham’s enchanting illustrations, an introduction by A. A. Milne, and the original illustrated dust jacket.
Author: Kenneth Grahame.
Title: The Wind in the Willows.
Publisher: London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1950.
Edition: First British Arthur Rackham Illustrated Edition, first printing. Ninety-seventh edition of the work, as stated on the copyright page.
Language: English.
Pages: xii, 178 pages.
Size: 9.5 x 6 inches.
Binding: Very good original green cloth binding with gilt lettering to the spine. The boards are clean and well preserved, with only minor signs of age and handling. The original pictorial dust jacket is in poor to good condition, showing edge wear, small losses, creasing, and earlier repairs made by a previous owner using transparent adhesive tape applied over portions of the jacket to reinforce and preserve it. Although these historic repairs remain visible, the jacket retains its delightful original illustration and looks attractive beneath its new, removable protective Mylar cover.
Content: Very good, with clean, well-preserved pages and light age toning. The illustrations retain their delicate colours and fine detail.
Illustrations: Illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 12 colour plates, including the frontispiece, together with numerous black-and-white illustrations and decorative drawings throughout the text.
Estimate: $400–500 USD.
The book: First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows remains one of the most beloved classics of English children's literature. Set along the peaceful banks of an English river, Kenneth Grahame's timeless tale follows the adventures of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and the irrepressible Mr. Toad. Blending gentle humour, friendship, nostalgia, and a deep affection for the natural world, the story has delighted generations of readers.
This particularly appealing 1950 edition marks the first appearance of Arthur Rackham's illustrations for the work. Originally commissioned in the final years of the artist's life, these illustrations were completed shortly before his death in 1939 and first published in the American limited edition of 1940. The present British edition brings Rackham's interpretation to Methuen's celebrated publishing tradition, accompanied by an introduction by A. A. Milne, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh. Rackham's delicate watercolours and expressive pen drawings capture the quiet magic of Grahame's riverside world, making this an especially desirable illustrated edition of the classic.
The author: Kenneth Grahame (1859–1932) was a Scottish-born British author whose literary reputation rests principally on The Golden Age (1895), Dream Days (1898), and The Wind in the Willows (1908). For many years, Grahame worked at the Bank of England, pursuing his literary interests alongside a successful professional career. His imaginative stories, inspired in part by the English countryside and the tales he told his young son, established him as one of the enduring voices of children's literature.
The Wind in the Willows has remained in continuous publication for more than a century and has inspired numerous adaptations for stage, film, and television. Its memorable characters and lyrical celebration of friendship, home, and adventure have secured its place among the great works of English children's literature.
The illustrator: Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was one of the most celebrated illustrators of the Golden Age of British book illustration. Renowned for his extraordinary imagination, intricate pen-and-ink drawings, and atmospheric watercolours, Rackham illustrated many of the world's most treasured literary classics, including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, and Grimm's Fairy Tales.
His illustrations for The Wind in the Willows were among his final achievements and are widely admired for their tenderness, subtle humour, and remarkable sensitivity to Grahame's characters. The expressive animals, twisting trees, and richly observed landscapes perfectly complement the story's whimsical spirit. As one of Rackham's last major commissions, this illustrated edition holds a special place in the history of twentieth-century book illustration.