Presentation copy from the illustrator.

[GRAHAME, Kenneth Ed.]; [Gwen RAVERAT, Illus.] ~ The Cambridge Book of Poetry for Children. Inscribed by the illustrator with an ALS.

The University Press, Cambridge: 1932.

8vo., aqua publisher's cloth lettered in black to upper cover and spine; decoratively lined in blue with four corner vignettes showing various snowy scenes; together in the unclipped dustwrapper (6s. net) printed in black with a central motif showing a horse-pulled haystack; title vignette and numerous other black and white illustrations by Raverat, including head and tail pieces as well as full-page designs; THE BOOK a very good copy, slightly darkened at edges and along spine, a little rubbed to extremities; internally very fresh, perhaps some light even toning throughout; THE WRAPPER also very good, a little darkened to panels and particularly along spine; with some creasing, nicking and chipping to upper edge and spine head; a couple of closed tears (longest 3cm approx), some slightly affecting lettering, repaired internally with tape. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. New, illustrated edition. This a presentation copy from the illustrator Gwen Raverat to fellow illustrator and artist Stephen Gooden and his wife Mona, with pencil inscription to the front fly-leaf. Also loosely inserted is a handwritten letter, signed by Raverat, referring to one of the poems. The book was her first commercial illustration commission, and was released to great success. Divided into two sections 'For the Very Smallest Ones' and 'For Those a Little Older', the subjects include Fairy-Land, Dream-Land, 'Fur and Feather', Christmas Poems, Day-Dreams and much more, all accompanied by Raverat's charming engravings. Raverat was the granddaughter of Charles Darwin and one of the founding members of the Society of Wood Engravers in 1920. Her engravings commissioned here were printed at the press by Walter Lewis, who took great care over their production, and produced them from the original blocks. He went on to produce four more books illustrated by her: Mountains and Molehills by Frances Cornford (1934), Four Tales from Hans Andersen (1935), The Runaway by Elizabeth A. Hart (1936) and The Bird Talisman by H. A. Wedgwood (her great-uncle) (1939). Stephen Gooden was also an accomplished engraver who is best known today for his work on several private press titles, his bookplates for many prestigious clients including the Royal Family, and as the official designer to the Bank of England. A fascinating association between two important artists.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good
JACKET: Very Good