DELUXE LIMITED EDITION OF I SAW ESAU, ONE OF ONLY 350 COPIES SIGNED BY AUTHOR IONA OPIE AND ILLUSTRATOR MAURICE SENDAK

(SENDAK, Maurice) OPIE, Iona and OPIE, Peter. I Saw Esau. The Schoolchild's Pocket Book. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, (1992). Octavo, original green paper boards, mounted cover label, original cardboard slipcase. $750.

Deluxe signed limited first American edition, one of 350 copies signed on a special limitation page by by Iona Opie and Maurice Sendak, with dozens of beautiful color illustrations after watercolors by Maurice Sendak, in original slipcase.

"These exuberant British children's rhymes, collected firsthand by two famous British folklorists, have been illustrated with wonderful drawings that provide answers to the riddles and make jokes" (New York Times). The rhymes were first published without Sendak's illustrations in 1947. The first edition with Sendak's illustrations was published in 1992; this is the signed/limited first American edition, published the same year along with an American trade edition. This is an unnumbered copy. The former owner of this signed/limited edition was Maurice Sendak's neighbor, Andrew, from Ridgefield, Connecticut. Sendak bought a home and studio in Ridgefield in 1972 with his longtime partner, Eugene Glynn, and lived there until his death. Andrew first encountered Sendak in 1975 during one of his daily dog walks. (Sendak owned many dogs throughout his life, and they often starred in his books.) Andrew was immediately taken with Sendak, who reminded him of his recently deceased father. One day, Andrew called Sendak at home and asked if he could join him on his walks. Andrew and Sendak thus embarked on a 37-year friendship that also included the Andrew's mother, Betty, as well as Andrew's brother. Sendak went on long walks and hikes with Andrew and his family regularly, discussing general life events, opera, and books. He also invited them into his studio to show off works in progress. Andrew's mother, Betty, was an avid reader and collector and she and Sendak would talk late into the night about books. Sendak offered Betty advice about how to find and authenticate rare children's books, which she used to build her collection. Additionally, he frequently bartered for autographs (i.e. a cake for an inscribed drawing featuring the cake). This book was a gift from Sendak to Betty. The many inscribed drawings, along with first editions, signed books, and other valuable items grew into one of the country's premier Sendak collections.

Small scratch to slipcase. Fine condition.