Complete Optimist by Childe Harold (2 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Uncut pages. Normal handling wear but overall G-VG.

dj. First edition. An absolute gem of early 20th century humor, whimsically written and illustrated by "Childe Harold" or Edward Salisbury Field (1878-1936), author, playwright, and employee/friend of William Randolf Hearst. His drawings, such as these, appeared in Hearst's newspapers under this nom de plume. Interestingly, animator and creator of the television miniseries,Over the Garden Wall,Patrick McHale has stated this title was a direct influence on his popular series, and it tracks. The illustrations depict people and animals with big smiles and wide eyes in scenes that range from horrifying to humorously dark. This book is surprisingly uncommon, and we have never seen a copy in jacket. OCLC cites only microform holdings. 8vo, unpaginated, printed on both sides of unopened bifolia, with illustrations and illustrated endpapers by the author. Pictorial boards backed in red cloth in the rare illustrated jacket with a different image than the boards. Light soiling to boards, bottom edges worn. Jacket with some chipping, but a very good copy.…