Holiday 2020 Catalogue

17 H o l i d a y 2 0 2 0 “One Of The Most Endearing Books Ever Written For Children”: Lovely Publisher’s Presentation Copy 14. GRAHAME, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. London, 1908. Octavo, original blue cloth, custom slipcase. $14,000. First edition, presentation copy, of a childhood classic, with publisher’s presentation stamp. “Unquestionable is the permanence, as an inspired and characteristically English contribution to children’s literature, of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows … one of the most endearing books ever written for children… Part of the secret success of the book is that its appeal is ageless and parents never tire of reading it aloud. Like all great books it is inexhaustible” (Eyre, 62). C.S. Lewis pointed to it as “a perfect example of the kind of story which can express things without explaining them” (Carpenter, 168). Without extremely rare dust jacket. Presentation stamp placed over publisher on title page, implying that this is a publisher’s presentation copy. Straymark to frontispiece, scattered foxing (less than usual), inner paper hinges expertly repaired, original cloth exceptionally fresh, gilt quite bright. A beautiful and desirable presentation copy. Rare. “The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad… talked of warm kitchens, of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings, of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings.”