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Description: First edition, first impression, out-of-series copy of 100 copies signed by Milne, Shepard, and Fraser-Simson on the limitation leaf, and additionally inscribed by the publishers for the composer "This is a presentation copy for H. Fraser-Simson, Esq." Harold Fraser-Simson published six volumes of his musical settings of the verse of A. A. Milne and, as noted by Thwaite, "his settings became very familiar through the wireless" (Thwaite, Brilliant Career, p. 61). When the verses for When We Were Very Young first appeared in Punch, Milne was approached by numerous composers wishing to set them to music. He chose Fraser-Simson who was his neighbour in Chelsea and the composer of the phenomenally successful musical The Maid of the Mountains. There would eventually be 67 songs and Milne noted that "the music is exactly right" (Thwaite, p. 272). When Songs from "Now We are Six" was published in 1927, Daphne Milne suggested a sound recording of three of the songs on the HMV label. "Down by the Pond", "The Engineer" and "The Friend" were sung by Christopher Milne, accompanied by the composer. "Us Two" was also recorded, but recited by Christopher without accompaniment. One of Christopher's cousins described the recording as "the unacceptable face of Poohdom" (Thwaite, p. 329), but the record does preserve Christopher Robin performing three of Fraser-Simson's settings of Milne and "giving the performance all he'd got" (Thwaite, p. 329). Ann Thwaite, The Brilliant Career of Winnie-the-Pooh, 1992; Ann Thwaite, A. A. Milne. His Life, 1990. Large octavo. Publisher's blue cloth-backed boards, front cover with paper label lettered in dark blue. Illustrations throughout by E. H. Shepard. Extremities a little worn, some occasional minor foxing, gatherings unopened: a near-fine copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom