{"product_id":"1950-first-uk-arthur-rackham-illustrated-edition-the-wind-in-the-willows","title":"1950 First UK Arthur Rackham Illustrated Edition - The Wind in the Willows","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Kenneth Grahame.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wind in the Willows.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e London: Methuen \u0026amp; Co. Ltd., 1950.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e First British Arthur Rackham Illustrated Edition, first printing. Ninety-seventh edition of the work, as stated on the copyright page.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e English.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e xii, 178 pages.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 9.5 x 6 inches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBinding:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContent:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Very good, with clean, well-preserved pages and light age toning. The illustrations retain their delicate colours and fine detail.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIllustrations:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 12 colour plates, including the frontispiece, together with numerous black-and-white illustrations and decorative drawings throughout the text.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEstimate: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e$400–500 USD.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst published in 1908, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wind in the Willows\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie-the-Pooh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe author: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKenneth Grahame (1859–1932) was a Scottish-born British author whose literary reputation rests principally on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Golden Age\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1895), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDream Days\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1898), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wind in the Willows\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wind in the Willows\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe illustrator: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArthur 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlice's Adventures in Wonderland\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeter Pan in Kensington Gardens\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrimm's Fairy Tales\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis illustrations for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wind in the Willows\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MFLIBRA - Antique Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67483067646201,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/3348\/files\/20261025wind_01.jpg?v=1792925858","url":"https:\/\/mflibra.com\/products\/1950-first-uk-arthur-rackham-illustrated-edition-the-wind-in-the-willows","provider":"MFLIBRA - Antique Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}