Very scarce with the first issue wrapper

Ross, Diana ~ The Golden Hen

Faber and Faber Ltd., London : 1942

The First UK printing published by Faber and Faber Ltd., London: 1942. 8vo., bright yellow cloth printed in red with the image of a hen to the upper board; lettered in red to the spine; together in the pictorial wrapper printed in yellow, black and green replicating the cover design ; title vignette and a further 27 illustrations in line throughout the text, including many full page by GRI (The author's pseudonym for her her own illustrations) ; The BOOK is in Very Good+ or better condition, a little bumped at the corners and spine tips with a touch of toning; the end-papers and paste-downs very faintly spotted, even marginal toning throughout; contemporary ownership inscription in blue ink to the front free endpaper; the WRAPPER is complete and is very seldom found at all, very lightly rubbed at edges, with some creasing and closed tears to the upper edge, mostly affecting the spine area; discretely repaired to the verso with some tape. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Diana Patience Beverly Ross (1910 – 2000) was a children's writer and artist who often, as is the case here, illustrated her own books under the pseudonym 'GRI' (the name of her cat). Perhaps best known today for her 'Little Red Engine' books (beginning with 'The Little Red Engine Gets a Name' in 1942), the present work is one of her lesser-known collections of stories for slightly older children, aged seven to twelve. Based on folk tradition, the books are nonetheless ones in which "the frightening and horrible side of the traditional tales has been carefully avoided." The stories here include 'The Old Man of the Mountain', 'The Toad with a Jewel in her Forehead', and 'The Creature in the Bed'. Scarce in the dustwrapper.

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