Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$640.43 + shipping
Description: First UK edition, first impression. Dahl's first novel for children was originally published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf in 1961. Described as "rude, naughty, anti-adult, creepy, and sometimes cruel" (ODNB), it was adapted into a film of the same name in 1996, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Musical. An early advert for the US edition appeared in the New York Times on 26 October 1961: "one is tempted to say that not since Alice has there been such a wonderland. The difference is that James is all boy and what transpires in the story is anything but Victorian". The New York Times, 26 October 1961. Octavo. Original pictorial laminated boards, spine and front cover lettered in black. No dust jacket issued. Black and white illustrations throughout by Michel Simeon. Head of spine and top left corner of front cover chipped, some lifting to laminate as usual, minor foxing to endpapers: a very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$1248.84 + shipping
Description: First UK edition, first printing. Publisher's original pictorial laminated boards, without dustwrapper was issued. Illustrated with line drawings throughout by Michel Simeon. A lovely fine copy, the binding square and firm and the the fragile laminate film intact. The contents are clean and bright throughout and without previous owners' marks. Housed in a bespoke quarter black morocco solander case with titles in gilt to the spine. A superb example of a notoriously brittle production. The first British printing of this classic of children's literature and the first edition to feature illustrations by Michel Simeon, which remained the standard up until 1990. Quentin Blake first illustrated the book in 1995. The story was first published in America in 1961 by Alfred A. Knopf, with illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.
Seller: LUCIUS BOOKS (ABA, ILAB, PBFA), York, United Kingdom