1962 Early Printing Signed by Tasha Tudor - The Secret Garden by F. H. Burnett

Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett. Illustrated by Tasha Tudor.
Title: The Secret Garden.
Publisher: Philadelphia & New York, J.B. Lippincott Company, 1962 (early printing with ISBN at the back of the dust jacket).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8.5" x 6.5".
Pages: 256 pages.
Binding: Near fine, handsome original red cloth binding, stamped in gilt, with a gilt tree vignette to the upper board and gilt titles to the spine. Binding tight and clean, in near fine condition. Complete with the original unclipped pictorial dust jacket, beautifully preserved with only light shelf wear under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Near fine. Internally fresh and clean, with a delightful authorial presentation. This copy is signed and inscribed by Tasha Tudor on the decorated front free endpaper: “To Ro, with best wishes! Tasha Tudor 1980”. A scarce and desirable association for collectors of Tudor’s work.
Illustrations: Wonderfully illustrated throughout by Tasha Tudor, with delicate color frontispiece, decorative borders, and charming drawings that bring Burnett’s timeless classic to life. (Complete)

Estimate: (Scarce with no or few other copies of The Secret Garden signed by Tasha Tudor)

The book: This edition of The Secret Garden, originally published in 1911, stands as one of the most beloved works of children’s literature. The 1962 Tasha Tudor–illustrated version by J.B. Lippincott quickly became a cherished classic, thanks to Tudor’s ability to capture the innocence, mystery, and charm of Burnett’s secret world. This copy, with its early printing identifier (ISBN on rear jacket panel) and Tudor’s personal signature and inscription, elevates it into the realm of true collectible treasures.

The author: Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) was a British-American novelist and playwright best remembered for her children’s stories Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden. Burnett’s works have inspired generations with their themes of transformation, resilience, and the redemptive power of nature and imagination.

The illustrator: Tasha Tudor (1915–2008) was one of America’s most beloved 20th-century illustrators, known for her nostalgic, finely detailed watercolors that celebrate childhood, family, and nature. Her illustrations for The Secret Garden remain among her most enduring contributions, perfectly marrying Burnett’s Edwardian charm with Tudor’s timeless pastoral style. Signed and inscribed copies of her illustrated works are particularly scarce and highly sought after.