My Friend Mr. Leakey

New York and London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1938. Stated First Edition at copyright; 1938 at title page. A rare original Harper first edition of this intriguing title. Green full-cloth boards, silver spine titles, moderate shelf wear, bump. Pages very good; no writing. Bind fine; hinges intact. Illustrated with the whimsically magical imagery of L. H. Rosomon. Chapter headings: I. Rats; II. The Snake with the Golden Tooth; III. A Meal with a Magician; IV. A Day in the Life of a Magician; V. Mr. Leakey's Party; and, VI. My Magic Collar Stud. Mr. Leakey is a wizard, or a magician, a practical one. He can become invisible when he wants, has a magic carpet for travelling, and a small dragon who can grill fish by spitting fire. He's also very good at bewitching things! There are three stories concerning the Mr Leakey and his high adventures and three additional stories rounding out the collection. A veiled, and humorous, set of children's stories. John Burdon Sanderson Haldane (1892-1964) was a Fellow of The Royal Society as an English scientist. He is known for his work in the study of physiology, genetics, evolutionary biology, and mathematics, where he made innovative contributions to biostatistics. The only children's book written by Haldane, the prominent geneticist is credited with coining the term clone. He was the son of the equally famous John Scott Haldane and a professed socialist, Marxist, atheist, and humanist whose political dissent led him to leave England in 1956 and live in India, becoming an Indian citizen in 1961. Very uncommon original illustrated edition of the British scientist's only children's book. This first edition contains a mention of his Communist Party affiliation excised from later editions. Printed in the United States of America. 179 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good. Illus. by Rosomon, L. H.. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.