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The Wind in the Willows. by KENNETH GRAHAME

Offered by: Shapero Gallery

Description
Stock Code 107244
London, Methuen & Co., 1931
£13,500
Signed by both Kenneth Grahame just a year before his death, and by Ernest H. Shepard.

E.H. Shepard visited Kenneth Grahame in 1930 to discuss new illustrations for The Wind in the Willows. In The Horn-Book for April 1954 Shepard recalled details of his interview with the elderly author

'Not sure about his new illustrator of his book, he listened patiently while I told him what I hoped to do. Then he said ''I love these little people, be kind to them''. Just that; but sitting forward in his chair, resting upon the arms, his fine handsome head turned aside, looking like some ancient Viking, warming, he told me of the river nearby, of the meadows where Mole broke ground that spring morning, of the banks where Rat had his house, of the pool where Otter hid, and of Wild Wood way up on the hill above the river. ...He would he said, to go with me to show me the river bank that he knew so well, ''...but now I cannot walk so far and you must find your way alone''.'

Peter Green notes, in his biography of Grahame, that the author was 'delighted (as countless children and adults have been) by the drawings Mr. Shepard produced'.

Limited edition, number 4 of 200 large paper copies, signed by both the author and the illustrator; 4to (230 x 190 mm); printed on hand-made paper, illustrations by E.H. Shepard, folding map at rear; publisher's green cloth-backed boards, paper label on spine, leaves uncut, printed dust-jacket, endpapers slightly browned, extremities and spine label slightly spotted, dust-jacket with two small closed tears at spine ends, otherwise a fine copy preserved in a custom made blue cloth solander box.

Bibliography
Stock ID:107244

More Information

Origin:	England
Period:	1920-1949
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	586440

Message from Seller:

Shapero Gallery Located in the heart of Mayfair, London, Shapero Gallery specializes in prints and original works on paper, ranging from antique prints to modern pochoir plates and photography. For inquiries, contact us at +44.207.493.0876 or gallery@shapero.com.

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