Rare books from Books of Wonder

SENDAK, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. [NY]: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1963. Oblong 8vo, 48pp. Gray quarter-cloth with full-color pictorial boards. Full-color pictorial endpapers; full-color illustrations throughout. Slight rubbing to board edges, minute sunning to boards, else a remarkably bright, clean copy, in publisher's original, first state full-color pictorial d.w. (price-clipped, sunning and light spotting across front and rear panels).Inscribed by the author,Maurice Sendak, to his friend and former lover, Leroy Richmond, with a remarkably detailed drawing of a wild thing.
First Edition. 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner.When Max is sent to bed without supper, he leaves home and journeys to where the Wild Things are. There, he tames the Wild Things and becomes their king, declaring, "Let the Wild Rumpus start!" But finally, Max chooses to go home where someone loves him "best of all." This masterpiece earned Sendak the 1964 Caldecott Medal and is as fresh and exciting today as when it was first… Read More

BAUM, L[yman] Frank. The Marvelous Land of Oz. Pictured by John R. Neill. The end-papers from life poses by the famous comedians, Montgomery and Stone. Chicago: Reilly & Britton, 1904. 8vo, 287pp. Dark red cloth pictorially stamped in dark navy blue, silver and green. Pictorial endpapers; 16 full-color plates and 118 b&w illustrations. A remarkably clean, tight copy, with spine ends and corners lightly rubbed, faint damp-staining to rear board, front hinge starting, a few pages soiled in margins.
First edition, second state, binding state B, bearing "Published, July, 1904" on copyright and the plate on pp 23 bearing the caption "Old Mombi puts Jack in the stable." The second of L. Frank Baum's beloved and best-selling Oz books, issued one year after "The Wizard of Oz" had become a smash hit on Broadway. The boy Tip is befriended by the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Jack Pumpkinhead, H.M. Wogglebug, T.E., and the wooden Sawhorse as they strive to stop the evil witch Mombi and the revolt of the women of Oz.… Read More

ROWLING, J[oanne] K[athleen].Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Illustrations by Mary GrandPre. [NY]: Scholastic [1999]. 8vo, xii 436pp. Purple half-cloth with green patterned boards and spine stamped in green. Red endpapers; b&w illustrated chapter headings. A fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket. Signed by the author, J.K. Rowling, and the artist, Mary GrandPre.First US Edition. The third book in the bestselling Harry Potter series. Harry must face his greatest challenge yet when his infamous godfather, Sirius Black, escapes from Azkaban prison. Is he out to get Harry? Or is there more to the story than Harry's been told?

BARRIE, J[ames] M[atthew]. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. With Drawings by Arthur Rackham. NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1906. 8vo, xiv 176pp. Olive cloth pictorially stamped in gilt. Olive endpapers; 50 hand-tipped color plates with captioned tissue guards. An clean, tight copy with edges lightly rubbed, spine a little sunned, half-inch spot at bottom right of front cover, title and its tissue guard foxed, about half the other tissue guards lightly foxed. Nonetheless, an attractive copy with its beautiful pictorial stamping still bright. First US edition. The second of Rackham's lavish illustrated editions, featuring 50 spectacular color plates. This story, from Barrie's 1902 novel The Little White Bird, tells of the infant Peter Pan. This is the first illustrated edition of this story.

COLLINS, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. NY: Scholastic Press [2008]. 12mo, vi 374pp. Grey textured boards stamped in gilt. A fine copy in publisher's original full-color pictorial dust jacket (not price-clipped). Signed by the author, Suzanne Collins.
First edition. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago, the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games" - a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. A beautiful first edition copy of this New York Timesbestseller signed by… Read More

SCIESZKA, Jon. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. [Illustrated by Lane Smith]. [NY]: Viking [1992]. 8vo, [48]pp. Color pictorial boards. Patterned endpapers; color illustrations on every page. A fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (no medal affixed, price-clipped). Signed by the artist, Lane Smith, with a full-page drawing of the Stinky Cheese Man on the front free endpaper. Scarce thus.
First edition. 1993 Caldecott Honor Book! Following up on the success of their previous collaboration, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, this award-winning duo created 10 new tales filled with humor and heart. With its unconventional page arrangement, and eclectic, frenetic mix of text and pictures, this delightful spoof has captured readers imaginations for nearly 30 years and influenced a generation of picture book authors. Copies signed by Lane Smith have grown quite scarce.

THOMPSON, Ruth Plumly. Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz. Illustrated by John R. Neill. Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co [1929]. 8vo, 253pp + [2] advts. Green cloth with spine stamped in black and color pictorial label affixed to front. Pictorial endpapers; 12 color plates. Light rubbing to spine ends and corners, pages a bit yellowed, else an exceptionally clean, tight copy with cover label exceptionally clean and bright and in original color pictorial dust jacket (several small chips and tears at edges, 3½" closed tear at base of hinge where front and spine panels meet and a 4½" closed tear at upper hinge of rear flap).
First edition, first state, being from the collection of the late Fred Meyer, long-time Executive Secretary of the International Wizard of Oz Club. Peter, the lad from Philadelphia, joins forces with Jack Pumpkinhead to rescue Ozma and the Emerald City from conquest by Mogodore, the infamous Red Baron of Baffleburg. Even with the help of Belfaygor of Bourne, whose beard grows at an alarming rate,… Read More

SEUSS, Dr. The Cat in the Hat. [NY]: Random House [1957]. 8vo, [ii] 62pp. Color pictorial boards. Color pictorial endpapers; color illustrations on every page. Minute wear to spine ends and corners, slight foxing to interior edges of boards, hinges mended, else a clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (light wear to corners and edges, minute scratching to front and some light soiling to rear).
First edition, first state (Younger/Hirsch #7). Challenged by Josh Hersey to create a basic reader that would be far more appealing to children than "Dick and Jane" and other such standard fare, Seuss created a classic that sold over a million copies in its first few years and went on to become one of the most beloved children's books of the 20th century. Named to both School Library Journal's Top 100 Picture Books of all time and The National Education Association's list of Teacher's Top 100 Books for children, it would be hard to find an American child or adult today who did not know The… Read More

SEUSS, Dr.
On Beyond Zebra. NY: Random House [1955]. 4to, [64]pp. Color pictorial boards. Color pictorial endpapers; color illustrations on nearly every page. Upper and lower edges a bit rubbed, else a clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (a bit soiled, some small chips and creasing at edges, lengthy scratch to right side of front panel).
First edition. If you think the alphabet stops with Z, you are wrong. So wrong. Leave it to Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell (with a little help from Dr. Seuss) to create an entirely new alphabet continuing from Z! This rhyming picture book introduces twenty new letters and the creatures that one can spell with them. This book was recently withdrawn from publication by the steward of Geisel's literary legacy, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, due to certain stereotypes featured in one of the images in the book.

[RACKHAM, Arthur]. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Translated by Mrs. Edgar Lucas. London: Constable & Company, 1909. 4to, xvi 326pp. Velum pictorially stamped in gilt; t.e.g. 40 mounted color plates with tissue guards and numerous b&w illustrations. Spine lightly sunned, light rubbing to covers, silk ties missing, plate at frontispiece bearing small crease at lower right corner, else a remarkably bright, tight copy in custom-made slipcase (a bit worn). Signed by the artist, Arthur Rackham.
First edition, limited issue, being one of 750 copies signed by the artist. A wonderful collection of fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm featuring the spectacular illustrations of Arthur Rackham. This is the subject matter that brought out the best in Rackham. A lavishly illustrated limited edition and a showpiece for any collection!

BAUM, L[yman] Frank. The New Wizard of Oz. With Pictures by W[illiam] W[allace] Denslow. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill [1903]. 8vo, 261pp. Dark green cloth pictorially stamped in black and orange. Two-color pictorial endpapers; 16 full-color plates and two-color textual illustrations throughout. Corners and spine ends worn, cloth covering outer hinges heavily rubbed, cloth a bit soiled with some spotting to front cover. Some light internal handsoiling, else a generally clean, tight copy. Quite rare!
Second edition, first state, variant B – no priority established. The first reissue of this beloved tale, having been issued by Bobbs-Merrill after the original publisher, George M. Hill went bankrupt (hence the word "NEW" in the title). As this occurred during the record-breaking run on Broadway of The Wizard of Oz musical, this edition was quickly brought out and is one of the rarest of all states of this title. Baum's iconic American story featuring the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin… Read More

DAHL, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Illustrated by Joseph Schindelman. NY: Alfred A. Knopf [1964]. 8vo, [xii] 164pp. Red cloth with spine stamped in gold and front cover in blind; top edge red. Mustard endpapers; b&w illustrations throughout. Slightest wear to corners and spine ends, else a remarkably fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (some minor wear along top and bottom edges). With a bookplate signed by the author, Roald Dahl, laid-in.
First edition, bearing the six-line colophon. Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. Charlie Bucket dreams of being one of the five, but he can't even afford the chocolate that contains the golden tickets. But when by a great stroke of luck he ends up with the fifth and final ticket, he finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime! The basis for two major motion pictures.

PATERSON, Katherine.
Bridge to Terabithia. Illustrated by Donna Diamond. NY: Thomas Y Crowell [1977]. 8vo, [x] 131pp. Black cloth with spine stamped in silver, front cover stamped in blind. 8 full-page and 4 half-page half-tone illustrations. Spine ends and lower corners lightly rubbed; faint, tiny discoloration in midst of front free endpaper; else a fine copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (a fw tiny chips at spine ends, spine a tad sunned, medal affixed). With a bookplate signed by two-time Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson laid in.
First edition. 1978 Newbery Medal Winner! This moving novel of two friends who create a magical kingdom for themselves to deal with the stresses in their lives has been beloved since its publication. The basis for a 1985 PBS TV movie and the 2007 Disney feature film starring Josh Hutcherson and written by the author's son, David Paterson (whose loss of a dear friend as a child inspired the book).

BARRIE, J[ames] M[atthew]. Peter and Wendy. Illustrated by F.D. Bedford. NY: Charles Scribner's Sons [1911]. 12mo, x 267pp. Green cloth pictorially stamped in gilt. 13 tipped-in half-tone plates (including title). Spine ends and corners lightly rubbed, spine a tad sunned, half-inch by quarter-inch stain at lower right edge of front free endpaper (no other pages affected), a few pages a bit roughly opened, else a clean, bright copy.
First edition, US issue, the American and British editions having been issued simultaneously. The first appearance as a novel of J.M. Barrie's beloved story of Peter Pan, which first appeared as a play on the London stage in 1904. Wendy and her brothers John and Michael are transported to Neverland by Peter Pan where they have their famous adventures with Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and the dastardly pirate Captain Hook.

JOHNSON, Crockett. Harold and the Purple Crayon. NY: Harper & Brothers, 1955. 16mo, [64]pp. Color pictorial boards with black cloth spine stamped in purple. Illustrations in black and purple on every page Lower edge of boards lightly rubbed (far less than usually found), upper edge of sheets a tad foxed – but actual pages unaffected, else a remarkably clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (edges, corners and spine slightly worn).
First edition with a $1.50 dust jacket price. There's nothing Harold can't create, do, or explore with his imagination and his trusty purple crayon. The first of seven books written by Crockett Johnson about this unforgettable character. Truly an iconic picture book.