Stevenson, Robert Louis & Minton, John (Illus.) ~ Treasure Island

Paul Elek Publishers Ltd., London : 1947

Large 8vo., green publisher’s cloth, ruled and titled in gilt to backstrip; together in the green publisher’s dustwrapper (10/6 net); full-colour printed endpapers, Stevenson’s map of the island, and numerous other black and white drawings throughout by John Minton; THE BOOK a fresh copy, with light bruising to spine ends and a couple of dark spots to the upper edge; even light toning throughout, with some light spotting to the prelims; the good plus DUST WRAPPER rubbed, with a patch of sunning to the lower edge of front panel; some small nicks and closed tears to extremities; upper edge more heavily creased, nicked, and chipped, particular at head of spine and extending onto panels; with minor loss and several tape repairs to the verso. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First edition of this title in the Camden Classics Series, with the illustrations by Minton and introduction by H. B. Burton. The first edition of Stevenson’s Treasure Island appeared in installments in Young Folks magazine in 1881 and 1882. Since then, it has been illustrated countless times, from the first illustrated edition in 1884, through to Edmund Dulac in the 1920s and N.C. Wyeth’s famous interpretations in the 1930s. Here, the accompanying drawings have been provided by John Minton, who is best known for his illustrations, but also exhibited at the Festival of Britain and the Royal Academy, designed costumes and scenery for John Gielgud's 1942 production of Macbeth, produced textiles and wallpapers, posters for London Transport, and was highly regarded as a portrait painter. Most of Minton’s illustrations were for John Lehmann, for whom he produced Elizabeth David’s Book of Mediterranean Food and French Country Cooking. He also provided dust wrappers for Michael Joseph, Secker and Warburg and Rupert Hart-Davis. A beautifully-illustrated edition, scarce in the dust jacket. Of note are the particularly stunningly vibrant endpaper illustrations, showing scenes from the island and the pirates rowing towards it.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good
JACKET: Good +