"KIDNAPPED PUPPIES, VICIOUS VILLAINS, AND HARROWING RESCUES": THE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS, SIGNED BY DODIE SMITH
SMITH, Dodie. The Hundred and One Dalmatians. London: Heinemann, (1956). Octavo, original full blue cloth, pictorial endpapers, original dust jacket. $5500.
First edition of this beloved children's classic, with 58 drawings by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone, signed by Dodie Smith on the front flyleaf.
Smith, a popular British playwright and novelist, "wrote numerous children's books, of which The Hundred and One Dalmatians is the most famous and has become a classic" (Stringer, 627)." "Although lacking the philosophical depth of a great animal fantasy, [the book] is an immensely popular farce of kidnapped puppies, vicious villains, and harrowing rescues. The style is tongue-in-cheek, but the suspense is real" (Silvey, 28). Made into an animated feature film by Disney in 1961 and a live-action movie starring Glenn Close in 1996.
Book about-fine, dust jacket near-fine with only faint foxing and shallow wear at spine head and corners. A lovely copy, scarce signed.