Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne with Decorations by Ernest H. Shepard. London: Methuen & Co, 1926, 8vo, t.e.g.
ONE OF THE MOST EXCELLENT OBTAINABLE EXAMPLES OF THE TRUE FIRST EDITION OF WINNIE THE POOH IN ITS ORIGINAL FIRST STATE DUST JACKET!
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This is the true first edition of Winnie the Pooh in completely original condition, retaining its very rare original dust jacket in excellent condition. Given that this was published as a children's book, though has taken on a cross-generational significance, most first edition copies are in notoriously poor condition, having been read and handled by children, often with illustrations naively coloured in, dust jackets torn, stained, or most commonly, missing. To find a copy like this in such incredible condition is nothing short of incredible. It's clear the book has been stored in its dust jacket, likely with a dust jacket protector, for a long time. The book itself is in such beautiful bright condition; it's the greatest copy we have ever encountered, and we have encountered quite a few now. To add on to that, the dust jacket in similarly beautiful bright condition is additionally incredible. This copy is internally fine without any gift or ownership inscriptions... the list goes on. It's really an amazing example of quite possibly the most influential and important children's book ever published, one of the greatest obtainable copies extant. Also included is an original advertisement from the publisher from circa 1929.
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Size: 131 x 196 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), h.t., t.p., 2pp, ix-xi, h.t., 1ff, pp.1-158, 2pp, (1)]
Book overall very fine (mint), dust jacket VG+ to near fine.
Original publisher's full green cloth decorated in gilt to the front board and spine. The binding is in extraordinarily bright condition without any fading, the gilt similarly very fine. The binding is structurally fine, not cocked, with joints and hinges all in fine condition, uncracked. Some extremely light rubbing to extremities of spine, but remaining in fine condition without any chips or tears. Page edges in near fine to fine condition, top edge gilt as published. The binding is overall in very fine condition, almost without fault. As far as the binding is concerned, this is easily the best obtainable example. There are no attached bookplates, ownership inscriptions, or gift inscriptions. The page block is entirely free of any writing, highlighting, colouring in, etc, and is additionally free of any signs of erased pencil/pen etc. It is very rare to find in such a state. The map to both endpapers is a little offset from the dust jacket, as expected, though not obfuscating any writing or details. Some very light foxing in this offset area. The text block is otherwise in very fine condition throughout, without fault. No dog-eared leaves, etc. Overall the book itself is in very fine condition, so much so as to be genuinely described as being in mint condition.
The dust jacket is original and in the first state, with '117th Thousand' at the head of the inner flap and '7/6 net' to the spine panel as called for the first state of the first impression dust jacket. The dust jacket is structurally secure without any compromises to the joints. The front panel of the dust jacket has some small minor stains at the foot and a small closed tear at the head, but is otherwise VG. The spine panel is a little distressed/rubbed as typical with minor loss/chips to the extremities, but significantly better than the typical example. The rear panel is VG+, light chipped at the head. The inner flaps are near fine. The verso of the dust jacket is near fine to fine.
*this book will arrive with a removable protective sleeve for the dust jacket.
