PUMPKIN MOONSHINE -

TUDOR, TASHA. TUDOR,TASHA. PUMPKIN MOONSHINE. NY: Oxford Univ. Press (1938). 16mo (4 x 4 3/4"), polka-dot patterned boards, edges and joints faded else near Fine in beautiful, clean dust wrapper with no fraying or tears, with only light browning on edge of inner flaps and small abrasion on backstrip effecting the "x" in Oxford. First edition, first printing of Tudor's first book and the first of the Calico books. Beautifully illustrated in sharp colors and with text hand-lettered. Sylvie Ann is the name of the little girl in the book. THIS IS THE DEDICATION COPY INSCRIBED BY TUDOR ON THE DEDICATION PAGE AND GIVEN BY TUDOR TO HER NIECE SYLVIE ANN, THE MODEL FOR AND NAMESAKE OF SYLVIE ANN IN THE BOOK. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY 2 AMAZING LETTERS. FIRST IS A 2 PAGE LETTER BY TUDOR TO SYLVIE ANN REFERRING TO THE BOOK AND THAT SYLVIE ANN WAS THE MODEL. SECOND IS A LETTER, 5 PAGES WRITTEN ON BOTH SIDES, FROM SYLVIE ANN'S MOTHER TO TUDOR TELLING HER HOW DELIGHTED SYLVIE ANN WAS WITH THE BOOK (this includes authentication and transcription of the letter by Tudor's biographer Harry Davis). On the dedication page the printed text reads "A wee story for a very sweet wee person." This is continued in Tudor's hand "called Sylvie Ann, with just no end of love from her Aunt Tasha. This book was supposed to be your Christmas present for last year, but I couldn't send it 'till now as it had to be printed. 1938". In the printed "This Book Belongs To" box on the front paste down, Sylvie Ann has written her name in childish script. The letter from Tudor to Sylvie Ann is written on a 2 page printed card with a lovely color illustration of a little girl. Dated Dec. 6, 1942 it reads: "Happy Birthday Dearest Sylvie! I am afraid this will not reach you on December 12th but we will all be thinking of you. I wish we could send more than a card but the mailing problem is difficult. Seth and Bethany send thier love to their cousin Sylvie Ann. Seth weighs 13 1/2 pounds and is very sweet. Bethany is such a big girl, it is hard to realize that she will soon be the age and size that you were when first I met you and drew pictures for Pumpkin Moonshine. How time flies! To think you are a whole year older! Kiss your Mommy for u