The Velveteen Rabbit

First American Edition. Very Early Printing, preceded only by the initial larger format printing. (Lacking the 1922 date on the title page of the larger format first printing, but with the blank flaps, the Heinemann imprint on the foot of the spine and George H. Doran as solo publisher on the title page.) Undated, but c.1924.

Fine in a just about fine, original, unrestored dust jacket. Illustrated with the famous 4 full-page and 3 double-page richly colored lithographs by William Nicholson. A remarkable copy seldom seen in this excellent condition of "one of the first modern children's picture books, a perfect combination of story and pictures." (Mahony). Incredibly scarce thus, especially in the unrestored original dust jacket that presents almost as new with only the slightest jacket edgewear and a single very small edge chip. Content fine; internally very clean and bright; completely unmarred. Octavo. 9.5'' x 7''. [8], 19, [1] pages. An absolutely wonderful copy for any Children's Literature collector!

This book captures the wistful attachment to our childhood toys through the story of a stuffed rabbit that hopes the love of its owner can make it real. It is one of the great collaborations in modern children's books, with the lithographs and the text equally invoking bittersweet affection: 'You were Real to the Boy [.] because he loved you.' Later printings did not use lithography to produce Nicholson's drawings, making the first printing especially distinctive in the quality of its lustrous illustrations.