60 Great Books - 31 - Bauman Rare Books “The Little House Was Curious About The City And Wondered What It Would Be Like To Live There…”: Rare First Edition Of Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House, In The Rare Unrestored Dust Jacket 29. BURTON, Virginia Lee. The Little House. Boston, 1942. Oblong quarto, original blue cloth, dust jacket, custom clamshell box. $17,500. Rare first edition of Burton’s Caldecott-winning classic, in original dust jacket. One of the rarest and most sought-after children’s classics, Burton’s The Little House tells the story of a thinking and feeling house, from its earliest days isolated in the country through its later years as it watches a city come to life around it. “Taking her cue from her small sons, Aristides and Michael, Burton chose subjects that would intrigue children… [including] Mary Ann, the steam shovel… [Burton’s books] have heroes and heroines children can understand and enjoy, ingenious and satisfactory endings and lively illustrations. The books survive because they exhibit so effectively the elements most basic to children’s literature” (Silvey, 109-10). Book about-fine, rare dust jacket entirely unrestored with only mild toning and lightest wear to extremities. A most exceptional copy.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDg3OTM=