“A BEAR, HOWEVER HARD HE TRIES, GROWS TUBBY WITHOUT EXERCISE”: SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION OF TEDDY BEAR AND OTHER SONGS, WITH TEXT BY MILNE, MUSIC BY FRASER-SIMSON AND ILLUSTARTIONS BY SHEPHARD, ONE OF 100 COPIES SIGNED BY ALL THREE

MILNE, A. A. Teddy Bear and Other Songs from "When We Were Very Young." London: Methuen, (1926). Small folio, original half blue cloth, mounted cover label, uncut. $2850.

Signed limited first edition of the second collection of songs based on Milne’s beloved poetry for children, number 86 of only 100 copies signed by Milne, composer H. Fraser-Simson and illustrator E.H. Shepard.

Following the success of Fraser-Simson's first collection of musical settings for Milne's poetry (Fourteen Songs from "When We Very Young", 1925), this volume, again featuring Ernest Shepard's whimsical line illustrations, provides piano scores for 14 more verses from that book, including "The Alchemist," "The Four Friends," "At the Zoo," "If I were King" and the title poem. The book was dedicated to the future Queen Elizabeth II. Cutler & Stiles, 116.

Interior fine, slight soiling to binding, only light rubbing and toning to extremities. A near-fine copy.