The Gruffalo

London: Macmillan, 1997. First Edition. Hard Cover. Illustrated by Scheffler, Alex: The Gruffalo (London: Macmillan Children's Books 1997). First Edition, First Printing. INTERESTING SIGNED EPHEMERA FROM THE AUTHOR LAID IN. Correct printing number line: 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2. Hardcover Issue. Publisher's original laminated boards. Ex-library. Illustrated in colour throughout. Pictorial end-papers. ISBN: 0333 71092 4. A solid VG copy (the binding square and firm; there is some rubbing and miniscule surface loss to the extremities and some faint indentations to the boards likely caused by a child using the book to lean on when writing). As expected there is the usual evidence of former library ownership namely: a red library withdrawn stamp to the front free end-paper with 30p in black biro below; faint evidence of biro scratching to the front free end-paper where a child has used the book to lean on when writing but no biro marks themselves; a small rectangular library stamp to the title page with the number 226 in biro below; and a former owner's neat name in ink to the top of the title page. This evidence of former library ownership is relatively low key and not unduly intrusive. Laid in is a supplied SIGNED Julia Donaldson Books Catalogue from circa 2018 together with a hand-written note from Julia Donaldson on a Singing Mermaid card: "Many thanks for your nice letter. I'm enclosing a signed catalogue, which I hope will be suitable for your collection. (You can always cut the front cover off!). With very best wishes, Julia Donaldson". First editions of "The Gruffalo" are seldom offered for sale and must have been printed in tiny numbers. We have not handled a hardback first edition since before the Millennium. It is certainly the case, in our experience, that hardback first editions of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" turn up on the market much more frequently than The Gruffalo. Overall a pretty nice copy with interesting and rare Signed ephemera. Looks very smart in its acetate cover. Photographs/scans available upon request.