With an Introduction by A.A. Milne.
there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats
The Wind in the Willows With an Introduction by A.A. Milne.
Methuen, 1951.
First UK Rackham edition, Deluxe issue. Number 325 of 500 large paper copies. A notoriously fragile book, this copy is in the original full white calf. The text is printed on handmade paper, with top edge gilt and others untrimmed. Twelve beautiful mounted colour plates with captions printed below, as well as many line drawings. A near fine copy, with slight rubbing to the spine ends. Contents fine and bright, with many pages unopened.
This deluxe edition celebrates the 100th edition of the Wind in the Willows. It is the most sumptuous edition of the story with Rackham's lovely illustrations.
Towards the end of his career Arthur Rackham decided to undertake a series of illustrations to Grahame's tale. He had been approached in 1908 to illustrate the first edition, but due to contractual obligations was unable to to take up the offer. It was always in his mind that this was a major story to which he had not turned his hand and he spent the final years of his life preparing a series of illustrations to the tale. Neither Rackham nor Grahame lived to see the realisation of their collaboration.
A.A. Milne, who writes the introduction, was a great fan of Grahame's anthropomorphic tale, indeed in 1929 he wrote a stage adaptation of the story, "Toad of Toad Hall". Describing the play he noted, "to turn Mr. Kenneth Grahame into a play is to leave unattractive finger-marks all over him, but I love his books so much that I cannot bear to think of anybody else disfiguring them."
Stock ID: 33588
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