One of the scarcest of the Moomin titles to find in collectible condition

Jansson, Tove ~ Comet In Moominland : With The Scarce Wrapper

Ernest Benn, London : 1951

The First UK printing published by Ernest Benn, London in 1951. 192 pp. Text illustrations by the author. Translated by Elizabeth Portch. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Publisher's original cream cloth boards with red designs and titling. Spine tips pushed with slight darkening at the tip and tail of the spine. Some spotting to the pastedowns and blank end-papers. Light toning and spotting to the text-block and light spotting to the text in places due to the quality of the paper stock used. No inscriptions or bookplates. Some light age related bumping and markings to the boards. No pages have been replaced. The scarce WRAPPER is in Very Good+ condition and is unclipped showing the original publisher's price of '7s 6d net' to the inside flap. Some small areas of loss to the upper spine folds and corners. Some light edge-wear and small nicks. Tape repairs to the spine and corners to the verso for some larger closed tears (the largest being less than 2cm). A small scuff area to the upper front right corner. Some age related markings but otherwise the artwork remains bright. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The second in Tove Jansson's series of 'Moomin' books. Profusely illustrated in black and white by the author. Published in Swedish in 1946, it marks the first appearance of several main character, such as Snufkin and the Snork Maiden. The English translation, published here in 1951 is a translation of the first version of Jansson's book, which she was later to revise. Rare in this the first English edition. The second printing of this title had completely different artwork for the wrapper. One of the scarcest Moomin titles to find with the wrapper which benefits from not being price-clipped. Only the second copy we have handled.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Very Good+