Snowball: Adventures of a Young Gorilla

New York: Random House, 1942. Hardcover. Very Good-. Signed by Author(s). Inscribed by Osa Johnson, opposite title page. Yellow cloth over boards with pictorial, papered sides. Edges and corners show wear; area of surface damage to upper corner of rear cover (presumed from sticker removal). Interior is otherwise clean and unmarked. 51, [1] pages. Inscribed ''To - My dear little friend / David / love / Osa Johnson''. The affectionately told story of ''Snowball,'' a baby gorilla, and his life with Osa & Martin Johnson, who had found him neglected in the jungles of the Belgian Congo and adopted him. The Johnsons were a husband-and-wife team of adventurers and pioneering documentary film-makers, well known for their work in Africa and Borneo. The book describes Snowball's origins, Osa & Martin's early encounters with him, his personality, manners, and many mischiefs, what they did together and how they lived together as a family. The story progresses as it follows them as they take Snowball to America aboard a steamer, eventually moving him to the Central Park Zoo, and describing way he was cared for and who his friends were there. Illustrated by Arthur August Jansson, who accompanied Carl Akeley on his expedition to Africa in 1926 and who also worked with him on the African dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History.