THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, KENNETH GRAHAME, 1931, 38th ed. (first with illustrations by Shepard)

 

TITLE.................... ....: THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 
SUBTITLE..................: 
AUTHOR................. ..: KENNETH GRAHAME 
ILLUSTRATOR..........:ERNEST H. SHEPARD 
PUBLISHER...............:METHUEN & CO, LONDON 
DATE & EDITION.......:1931, 38th ed. (first with illustrations by Shepard) 
COVER SIZE (mm)....: 120 x 185 
CONDITION...............: 
DUST JACKET...........: no 
COVERS.....................: full leather with gilt corner decorations & ?KENTON COLLEGE KENYA? 
SPINE.........................: with 5 bands, gilt title & motifs, slight wear 
END & FLY PAPERS.: replacements, good 
PAGES.......................: 312pp, generally bright & clean, some small dents to front edges 
BINDING....................: tight 
ILLUSTRATIONS.......: many charming vignettes throughout 
INSCRIPTIONS..........: prize label inside front cover 
SYNOPSIS, BLURB...: 
A delightful edition of a most charming title. 
Beautiful and tasteful full leather prize binding for a prestigious preparatory school in Kenya. 
Externally very good and internally clean and bright. 
My only criticism of this book is the substitution of the original end and fly papers. Otherwise ? a superb volume. Unique, in any event with several collector / enthusiast themes.

A little about ?Wind In The Willows?: 
Although the publisher initially doubted that a book with animals as heroes could succeed, it went on to become one of the all-time classic children?s books. The Wind in the Willows was, in fact, so successful that it allowed Grahame to quit his hated job at a bank and retire to the countryside, where he spent the rest of his time along the much more charming banks of the Thames, and in boats like his characters. When Shepherd went to see the then elderly Grahame to discuss his plans for the illustrations, Grahame instructed Shepherd: "I love these little people, be kind to them." Later, upon seeing Shepard?s drawings for the book, Grahame, though critical, seemed pleased then chuckled and said "I?m glad you?ve made them real."