Children
Beatrix Potter
Campfire & Wigwam
Eloise & Madeline
On The Water
Pets
Winnie-The-Pooh
Fairy Tales
The Story of Ferdinand -
Munro Leaf, Robert Lawson (illustrator)
1936 - The Viking Press, New York - First Edition
A superior first edition of this high point in 20th century children's literature, in a better than usually encountered first issue dust jacket.
Ferdinand, the Bull who preferred to smell the flowers, quickly became popular, striking a chord of anti-fight in a world infected by war. Banned by Franco and burned in Nazi Germany. Translated into over 60 languages and made into an Oscar winning animated film by Disney in 1938.
‘Once upon a time in Spain there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand.’
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Price HK$ 56,000
1936 - The Viking Press, New York - First Edition
A superior first edition of this high point in 20th century children's literature, in a better than usually encountered first issue dust jacket.Ferdinand, the Bull who preferred to smell the flowers, quickly became popular, striking a chord of anti-fight in a world infected by war. Banned by Franco and burned in Nazi Germany. Translated into over 60 languages and made into an Oscar winning animated film by Disney in 1938.
‘Once upon a time in Spain there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand.’
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Price HK$ 56,000
Routledge's Every Girl's Annual -
Alicia A Leith (editor), Kate Greenaway, F. A. Fraser, M. E. Edwards (illustrators)
1881 - George Routledge &, London - First Edition
A near fine early edition of this Girl’s annual, which was published between 1878 and 1886. Wonderfully illustrated throughout, in colour and monochrome, by some of the best Children’s illustrators of the time including Kate Greenaway who provides the colour title page and frontispiece.
Over 500 pages of stories, poetry, puzzles, music, proverbs, history, and useful pieces on ‘what girl’s can do’ such as etching, needlework, and cookery.
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Price HK$ 1,100
1881 - George Routledge &, London - First Edition
A near fine early edition of this Girl’s annual, which was published between 1878 and 1886. Wonderfully illustrated throughout, in colour and monochrome, by some of the best Children’s illustrators of the time including Kate Greenaway who provides the colour title page and frontispiece. Over 500 pages of stories, poetry, puzzles, music, proverbs, history, and useful pieces on ‘what girl’s can do’ such as etching, needlework, and cookery.
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Price HK$ 1,100
The Pooh Books - When We Were Very Young; Winnie the Pooh; Now We Are Six; and The House at Pooh Corner -
A. A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator)
1924 to 1928 - Methuen &, London - First Editions
'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'
A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound in full morocco leather to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.
‘I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.’
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Price HK$ 52,000
1924 to 1928 - Methuen &, London - First Editions
'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound in full morocco leather to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.
‘I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.’
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Price HK$ 52,000
Five Children And It -
E. Nesbit
1902 - T. Fisher Unwin, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of this magical tale bound by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath, illustrated by H. R. Millar with forty-six black and white plates – Cyril, Athena, Robert, Jane, and baby brother, Lamb, are exploring the land around the house their parents have rented for the summer when they find the sandpit. They decide to dig a hole straight through to Australia. Their plan is interrupted when Athena discovers a magical creature hiding in the sand. It is a Psammead, and it can grant wishes.
‘The children stood around the hole looking at the creature they had found. It was worth looking at. Its eyes were on long horns like a snail's eyes, and it could move them in and out like telescopes; it had ears like a bat's ears, and its tubby body was shaped like a spider's and covered with thick soft fur; its legs and arms were furry too, and it had hands and feet like a monkey's.’
Psammead: I am a Sand Fairy!
Jane: A Sand Fairy? I thought fairies had little ballet dresses and wings and wands.
Psammead: What on earth have you been reading?
Jane: I'll call you Sandy.
Psammead: Why?
Jane: Because we found you in the sand.
Psammead: You're so funny. Have your parents tried boiling you?
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Price HK$ 12,500
1902 - T. Fisher Unwin, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of this magical tale bound by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath, illustrated by H. R. Millar with forty-six black and white plates – Cyril, Athena, Robert, Jane, and baby brother, Lamb, are exploring the land around the house their parents have rented for the summer when they find the sandpit. They decide to dig a hole straight through to Australia. Their plan is interrupted when Athena discovers a magical creature hiding in the sand. It is a Psammead, and it can grant wishes.‘The children stood around the hole looking at the creature they had found. It was worth looking at. Its eyes were on long horns like a snail's eyes, and it could move them in and out like telescopes; it had ears like a bat's ears, and its tubby body was shaped like a spider's and covered with thick soft fur; its legs and arms were furry too, and it had hands and feet like a monkey's.’
Psammead: I am a Sand Fairy!
Jane: A Sand Fairy? I thought fairies had little ballet dresses and wings and wands.
Psammead: What on earth have you been reading?
Jane: I'll call you Sandy.
Psammead: Why?
Jane: Because we found you in the sand.
Psammead: You're so funny. Have your parents tried boiling you?
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Price HK$ 12,500
The Railway Children -
Edith Nesbit, C. E. Brock (illustrator)
1906 - Wells Gardner, London - First Edition
‘I think everyone in the world is friends if you can only get them to see you don't want to be un-friends.’
The first edition, scarce in such fabulous condition, of Nesbit’s most loved children’s story, the basis for the wonderful 1970 Lionel Jeffries film, and Simon Nye’s 2000 television adaptation (both featuring Jenny Agutter, firstly as Bobby and then as the children’s mother). Illustrated by Charles Brock with twenty black and white plates and illustrated title page.
‘When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their love to Father. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance.’
'Her writing is so light and unforced, her humour so sure and her narrative quality so strong . . . she has given me the most complete satisfaction' – Noël Coward.
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Price HK$ 11,000
1906 - Wells Gardner, London - First Edition
‘I think everyone in the world is friends if you can only get them to see you don't want to be un-friends.’The first edition, scarce in such fabulous condition, of Nesbit’s most loved children’s story, the basis for the wonderful 1970 Lionel Jeffries film, and Simon Nye’s 2000 television adaptation (both featuring Jenny Agutter, firstly as Bobby and then as the children’s mother). Illustrated by Charles Brock with twenty black and white plates and illustrated title page.
‘When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their love to Father. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance.’
'Her writing is so light and unforced, her humour so sure and her narrative quality so strong . . . she has given me the most complete satisfaction' – Noël Coward.
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Price HK$ 11,000
The Story of the Treasure Seekers. Being the Adventures of the Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune. -
Edith Nesbit, Gordon Brown and Lewis Baumer (illustrators)
1899 - T. Fisher Unwin, London - First Edition
A lovely unrestored and unfoxed first edition of Edith Nesbit’s first book. Illustrated with seventeen full page black and white plates.
When their father's business fails, the six Bastable children decide to restore the family fortunes. But although they think of many ingenious ways to do so, their well meant efforts are either more fun than profitable, or lead to trouble...
The messages intertwined amongst the various adventures make this a book that adults may actually find more entertaining than they expected, especially if read previously as a child.
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Price HK$ 4,000
1899 - T. Fisher Unwin, London - First Edition
A lovely unrestored and unfoxed first edition of Edith Nesbit’s first book. Illustrated with seventeen full page black and white plates.When their father's business fails, the six Bastable children decide to restore the family fortunes. But although they think of many ingenious ways to do so, their well meant efforts are either more fun than profitable, or lead to trouble...
The messages intertwined amongst the various adventures make this a book that adults may actually find more entertaining than they expected, especially if read previously as a child.
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Price HK$ 4,000
The Magic Bed-Knob -
Mary Norton, Joan Kiddell-Monroe (illustrator)
1945 - J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd., London - First Edition
Finely bound and charmingly and profusely illustrated throughout in colour and black and white.
Three children are sent off to stay with an old Aunt in the countryside during WWII, which is where they bump into Miss Price, or more precisely she bumps into the ground trying to ride her, well you know where this is going so we shall not spoil the story for you, needless to say there is a magic bed.
The subtitle ‘Or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons’ was added to later editions. This is the first in a series of books that became the basis for the wonderful Disney musical ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’.
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Price HK$ 2,600
1945 - J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd., London - First Edition
Finely bound and charmingly and profusely illustrated throughout in colour and black and white.Three children are sent off to stay with an old Aunt in the countryside during WWII, which is where they bump into Miss Price, or more precisely she bumps into the ground trying to ride her, well you know where this is going so we shall not spoil the story for you, needless to say there is a magic bed.
The subtitle ‘Or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons’ was added to later editions. This is the first in a series of books that became the basis for the wonderful Disney musical ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’.
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Price HK$ 2,600
The Romance of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table -
Alfred W. Pollard, Arthur Rackham (illustrator)
1917 - Macmillan and Co., London - First Edition with Rackham&rsquo
‘The story of King Arthur and his Knights is one of the greatest that men have ever made...’
An exemplary copy of this celebrated collection of Arthurian legends, wonderfully embellished with Arthur Rackham’s dramatic illustrations, with 16 full page colour plates, including frontispiece, each one with descriptive tissue guards, together with several other full page and in-text black and white illustrations throughout.
Abridged from Malory’s Morte D’Arthur by Alfred W. Pollard.
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Price HK$ 5,500
1917 - Macmillan and Co., London - First Edition with Rackham&rsquo
‘The story of King Arthur and his Knights is one of the greatest that men have ever made...’An exemplary copy of this celebrated collection of Arthurian legends, wonderfully embellished with Arthur Rackham’s dramatic illustrations, with 16 full page colour plates, including frontispiece, each one with descriptive tissue guards, together with several other full page and in-text black and white illustrations throughout.
Abridged from Malory’s Morte D’Arthur by Alfred W. Pollard.
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Price HK$ 5,500