INSCRIBED with an original poem
When We Were Very Young
Methuen, 1924.
First edition, page ix unnumbered. 8vo. Blue cloth with gilt lettering and gilt vignettes to upper cover. Top edge gilt. Inscribed with a handwritten poem by A. A. Milne on the front endpaper: "Though Beach Macrae / Be bald or grey / Or Elliot Beach / Be a little of each / Whatever his age, I shall say / 'Good luck to Elliot Beach Macrae'. Feb. 17th, 1931. A. A. Milne". Illustrated in line by E.H. Shepard. A very good copy, with just light wear to spine ends. Housed in a modern box.
This book is the first in a series of four which introduces the characters of Pooh and Christopher Robin. The bear in the poem entitled "Teddy Bear" gives us the first glimpse of the bear who has gone on to become one of the most popular children's characters of all time. Christopher Robin appears in "Vespers", "Buckingham Palace" and various other poems. At the time of publication the writer and publishers had no idea of the huge success which awaited these characters. Their initial print run was only 4500 copies, these sold out on the first week and since then all of Milne and Shepard's "Pooh" books have been reprinted in very many different formats.
PROVENANCE. From the library of American publisher Elliott B. Macrae, with his signature on the verso free endpaper. After the Second World War Macrae was president of E. P. Dutton & Co. who published Milne in America.
Stock ID: 34132
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