Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2005 Issue
Illustrated Books From John Windle, Antiquarian Bookseller
Paul Bransom illustration from The Argosy of Fables
Another favorite children's character who has managed to stay free from controversy is Babar. It is much simpler being an elephant. Babar was the elephant who grew up in Paris, but returned to the elephant realm to serve as king. If ever a book qualified to be noted for being an illustrated book, this is it. While most people have probably forgotten the details of the lives of Babar and his lovely, if portly wife Celeste, who can forget the image of Babar in his dashing green suits? Not even St. Patrick could compare to Babar when it came to "wearin' o' the green." Item 49 is the first English translation of the Jean de Brunhoff classic The Story of Babar the little elephant from 1933. $575.
Item 139 is E.S. Tucker's The Book of Pets, illustrated by Maud Humphrey. This book contains numerous illustrations of children and animals by Ms. Humphrey, a respected American illustrator of the time. However, Ms. Humphrey is now better remembered for something entirely different. She was the mother of Humphrey Bogart. $275.
Item 227 is an early talking book. You remember talking books, don't you? They are the ones where a recorded voice would read the text, and at the end of each page, tell you to turn to the next. You can tell this talking book is old by the fact that the record which accompanies it is a 78. This is The Magic Wood Story and Music...by Harry Phillips, and if you have an old phonograph that plays 78 rpms, you can give this book a spin. Good luck finding one of those 78 needles. Published/recorded in 1948. $250.
A wonderful collection of American images created by notable artists of the time is found in Picturesque America. Or, The Land We Live In. Edited by William Cullen Bryant, this two-volume work published in 1872-1874 includes engravings of American cities, towns, and scenic sites such as Yellowstone Falls and Mount Hood. Item 50. $1,150.
Item 43 is a limited edition of An Argosy of Fables... illustrated by Paul Bransom. This is copy 31 of 365, and includes fables from around the world, accompanied by the color plate illustrations of Bransom (see image this page). From 1921. $975.
What's for dessert? Item 170 is headed Polly put the kettle on we'll all make Jell-O. This overtly self-promotional piece was put out by the Genesee Pure Food Company of LeRoy, New York, in 1924. While the booklet is complete with wrappers and Maxfield Parrish illustrations, Windle sadly notes that the four-page ice cream supplement, which was attached by string, is missing. It's less rich that way. $125.
John Windle, Antiquarian Bookseller, is located on the web at www.johnwindle.com and may be reached by phone at 415-986-5826.
