Products
The Red Pony
New York: Viking Press, 1945. 131 pp. Approximately 6 3/4 x 9 3/4". Cardboard slip case with paste-down label, slight water stains on bottom edge, otherwise is in near fine condition; Grey/green cloth over boards with laid down color vignette on front cover, illustrated endpapers, all edges dyed blue, in fine condition. (Goldstone and Payne A9c, variant 1 - printed by the Zeese-Wilkinson Company but in a beige slipcase instead of a blue slipcase.)
This is the first illustrated edition of 4 stories that were partially published in magazines in 1933 - 1936. The main character of each story is Jody Tiflin, a boy living on his father's ranch in California. Eleven beautiful watercolor illustrations by Wesley Dennis are throughtout and also on the endpapers.
The Red Pony
New York: Viking Press, 1945. 131 pp. Approximately 6 3/4 x 9 3/4". Cardboard slip case with paste-down label, slight crack on top edge, otherwise is in near fine condition; Grey/green cloth over boards with laid down color vignette on front cover, illustrated endpapers, all edged dyed blue, slight foxing to book and label, otherwise in near fine condition. (Goldstone and Payne A9c, variant 2 - printed by Rogers-Kellopgg-Stillson in a tan slipcase.)
This is the first illustrated edition of 4 stories that were partially published in magazines in 1933 - 1936. The main character of each story is Jody Tiflin, a boy living on his father's ranch in California. Eleven beautiful watercolor illustrations by Wesley Dennis are throughout and also on the endpapers.
The Red Velvet Mansion
Austin, TX: Amistad Press, 1981. (28) pp. Approximately 3/4 x 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 195 copies. Red cloth over boards, printed dust jacket, red-toned photographs, original packaging, fine condition. (Bradbury, Amistad Press 36)
An interesting little book about a real doll house constructed by the author and her husband with various details of its interior and contents.
The Reluctant Dragon
New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1983. Approximately 8 1/4 x 10 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 350 copies, this being #44. Green cloth over boards with brown cloth spine, brown slipcase, signed on the colophon by the illustrator, Michael Hague, includes a reproduction of a specially commissioned pen and ink drawing, all in fine condition.
Kenneth Grahame (1859 - 1932) was a British writer, best known for his novel, "The Wind in the Willows". This charmingly illustrated short story, is seen as an original idea that a dragon does not have to be seen as a threat, but can be a sympathetic character. This story was originally published in 1898 as a chapter in Grahame's book, "Dream Days".
The Rita and Tim Hildebrandt Fantasy Cookbook: Real Recipes You Can Cook in Your Own Home
New York: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1983. 195 pp. Approximately 8 x 10". First Edition, first printing. Wraparound dustjacket is beutifully illustrated on the front cover but is missing a small chunk on the top of the spine and a large section on the rear cover, good condition only. Green cloth binding with 8 illustrations in color and many black and white line drawings, maps and decorations, some punctures to cover (an overly friendly cat?), but text block is clean. Overall, very good condition.
Greg and Tim Hildebrandt (twin brothers born in 1939) began painting professionally in 1959 as the Brothers Hildebrandt. They are best known for their popular The Lord of the Rings calendar illustrations,painting the first bilingual Star Wars film poster, illustrating comics for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, original oil paintings for a limited edition of Terry Brooks's The Sword of Shannara, and their Magic: The Gathering and Harry Potter illustrations for Wizards of the Coast. Tim Hildebrandt illustrated children's books, two Dungeons & Dragons calendars, and the poster for the film The Secret of NIMH.
The Robber Bride
New York: Nan A. Talese / Doubleday, 1993. 6 1/2 x 9 1/2". 466pp. First American edition, first printing. Dust jacket in good condition only, with crease on the spine and minor wear, not price clipped. Grey cloth quarter-wrapped over boards, slightly cocked, minor wear, otherwise very good condition.
This is Atwood's 8th novel, and is full of her usual wit. The story centers on three women and the influence on them by the fourth classmate, Zenia, the evil maurader. This book comes with the publisher's "Book Group Companion".
The Short Reign of Pippin IV
New York: Viking Press, 1957. 188 pp. Approximately 5 1/4 x 8". First Edition, first state of dust jacket. Illustrated dust jacket in very good condition with minor edge wear, some rubbing, publisher's price of $3.00 on the front flap; Strawberry cloth over boards with heraldic blind-stamping, yellow spine with red printing but discolored/darkened slightly, top stain red, pages clean and bright, in very good condition. (Goldstone & Payne A36a)
Generally considered as one of Steinbeck's lesser books, this book did become popular enough to be a book-of-the-month selection. This is Steinbeck's only work of political satire and tells the story of an amateur astronomer, Pippin, who is proclaimed King of France. He spends most of his time trying to avoid any responsibilities and deal with hangers-on with inherited money. Much of the satire is clearly relatable to today's people and politics as well.
The Spectator in Miniature being the Principal Religious, Moral, Humourous, Satirical and Critical Essays, Vol. 1 & 2
Exeter: J. & B. Williams, 1839. Hardcover, 3 x 5". Black cloth over boards with gilt design and lettering on spines, spine edge on volume 2 has 2" split, both have minor shelf wear and moderate foxing, previous owner's name on front paste-down endpaper in both volumes, otherwise very good condition.
The Spectator was a daily publication with a run from 1711 to 1712. The fictional character Mr. Spectator writes about the habits and shortcomings of his fellow citizens. The authors promoted family, marriage, and courtesy. The Spectator catered mainly to the interests of merchants and traders, the emerging middle class and was also widely read in America.
The Story of Word Pictures
Santa Cruz, CA: The Good Book Press, 1984. 14 pp. Approximately 2 x 2 1/8". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, the first fifty are hand-painted and bound in leather, this being #197 of the regular printing. Pale green paper wrap with design and title on cover and spine in fine condition. Green boards with design on front cover, printed on a hand-operated printing press on Peter's handmade paper, one minor foxing spot on rear endpaper, numbered on the colophon, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter and Donna Thomas 11).
Peter and Donna Thomas, well-known book artists, authors, and paper-makers, have been operating their private press since 1976. This is a lovely little book with elfin maidens and wizards and words by the author on how to gather pictures in your own head.
The Sunbonnet Babies' Book
Chicago, NY & London: Rand, McNally & Co., 1902. 6 x 8 1/4". 105 [1] pp. Tan pictorial cloth over boards, some staining on the cover, some minor stains inside, a slight tear on p. 33, pictorial endpapers with music by H. H. Neidlinger, many colorful illustrations by Bertha L. Corbett throughout, very good condition.
Eulalie Osgood Grover (1873 - 1958) was forn in Mantorville, Minnesota. She created a series of reading primers for young readers featuring two little girls named Mollie and May, whose faces were completely hidden by large sunbonnets. The Sunbonnet Babies Primer was a huge success and was widely accepted in public schools throughout the United states. In 1905, Miss Grover published a second series, The Overall Boys, which introduced little boy characters.