Peirce Waldo Illustrations (1 results)

First edition. Hardcover. Quarto-size. Pictorial papered boards and unlettered black spine, with bottom and top edges of the boards worn, but professionally and lightly repaired, some small repairs at the head and tail of the spine, nicely done, otherwise good in a good pictorial dustjacket with some professionally closed tears and a couple thumbnail-size restored chips (no repairs affecting either the lettering or the illustration). The original $ price is intact on the jacket's flap. though scuffed a bit where a later price-sticker has been removed. British author's first book, first published in the USA in 1943 and published in England two years later, in 1945, most likely due to war-time restrictions, with different illustrations by Joan Kiddell-Monroe. This title, and a sequel, "Bonfires and Broomsticks", in 1947, became the basis for popular Disney film in 1971, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks". In fact, Norton would go on to have a long career as a writer of children's books, notably the Borrowers series, also much filmed. Copies of this somewhat fragile American edition usually turn up in a battered state, and copies in dustjacket are exceptionally uncommon. Pierce's colour illustrations are charming, and the story is witty and observant, told in the amusing style that the author was to use to wonderful effect with the Borrowers. Scan available on request.…