Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are (signed). Harper & Row, New York, 1963.
Price: US$350.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Oblong 4to, cloth over pictorial paper-covered boards, signed and dated by Sendak (Feb.1974) on the half-title page. Photocopy of 1988 signed sketch by Sendak laid in. Caldecott medal sticker to front jacket panel, no mention of the 1974 printing from new engravings, jacket price $4.95. Fine in fine, unclipped dj. Signed by Sendak. Signed by the author/artist.
Seller: Bud Plant & Hutchison Books, Cedar Ridge, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 25th Anniversary Edition Reprinted in 1988. Book FINE; dust jacket NEAR FINE rubbing to small portion of bar code on rear flap where sticker has been removed.
Seller: Barrister, Inc., Davie, FL, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where The Wild Things Are ( cut signature ). Harper and Row, 1963.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition in a later jacket with a price of $3.50 on the flap, but with the Caldecott sticker on the front panel. Cut signature of the author below his name on the first title page. The jacket is worn and dirtied and has a sticker on the rear panel. First edition book with the proper code on the copyright page. First edition book, later jacket, cut signature.
Seller: Ink, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are.. Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1963.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the 25th anniversary edition of one of the most desirable books in modern childrenâs literature. Oblong quarto, original cloth backed pictorial paper boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "For Gloria Burton Maurice Sendak." Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Hailed as "the Picasso of children's books," Maurice Sendak produced more than 85 books, of which Where the Wild Things Are is undeniably the most famous, being one of the ten best-selling children's books of all time. "Wild Things!' When Max's sojourn among them unfolded in kinematic splendor in 1963, adults trembled and children reveled. Reaching back into his own Brooklyn childhood, Sendak created the enduring child-hero Max, who overcomes his fears and achieves catharsis in a colorful fantasy tableau. The book was awarded the 1964 Caldecott Medal by the American Library Association" (NYPL Books of the Century 212). Basis for the 2009 film directed by Spike Jonze starring Max Records and features the voices of James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, Lauren Ambrose, Forest Whitaker, Catherine O'Hara, and Chris Cooper.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Maurice Sendak. Where the Wild Things Are, 1st/1st, SIGNED. Harper and Row, 1963.
Price: US$995.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Harper and Row, 1963. SIGNED BY SENDAK on a cut signature affixed to title page. It is a first TRADE EDITION because the bottom of the title page states "Library of Congress number 63-21253." Dustjacket is a 2nd state jacket. Condition: The book itself is in very good condition. Minimal wear. Clean. The DJ is good condition with chipping and wear.
Seller: JayLin Books, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are.. Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1963.
Price: US$1050.00 + shipping
Description: Early edition of one of the most desirable books in modern childrenâs literature. Oblong quarto, original cloth backed pictorial paper boards. Boldly signed by Maurice Sendak on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Hailed as "the Picasso of children's books," Maurice Sendak produced more than 85 books, of which Where the Wild Things Are is undeniably the most famous, being one of the ten best-selling children's books of all time. "Wild Things!' When Max's sojourn among them unfolded in kinematic splendor in 1963, adults trembled and children reveled. Reaching back into his own Brooklyn childhood, Sendak created the enduring child-hero Max, who overcomes his fears and achieves catharsis in a colorful fantasy tableau. The book was awarded the 1964 Caldecott Medal by the American Library Association" (NYPL Books of the Century 212). Basis for the 2009 film directed by Spike Jonze starring Max Records and features the voices of James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, Lauren Ambrose, Forest Whitaker, Catherine O'Hara, and Chris Cooper.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Harper & Row, 1963.
Price: US$1363.75 + shipping
Description: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, Harper & Row, 1963, first edition (later printing), fine in near fine full color pictorial dust-wrapper with like illustrations on virtually every other page. INSCRIBED by the author. Source book for the film of the same name.
Seller: THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY / A.B.A.A / 1979, ROCHESTER, MI, U.S.A.
Price: US$2295.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Harper & Row. New York. 1963. First edition with a loosely laid-in, adhesive-backed bookplate, hand-signed by author and illustrator, Maurice Sendak. Book meets first edition points per (Hanrahan A58) as base of title page states: "Copyright 1963 by Maurice Sendak. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Library of Congress catalog card number: 63 - 21253." . No writing within. Clean. Unpaginated. Illustrated endpapers. Illustrated paper boards with cloth binding; light toning near edges. Light shelf-rubbing at tips. A couple of minor textural scuffs on rear endpaper; thin faint tape ghost on rear pastedown. No writing, coloring or stamping on or within. A later DJ has been married to this copy intentionally, to mimic the first printing DJ exterior, with no Caldecott Medal on front, and no SBN/ISBN on rear. The book is a first edition, the DJ is not. A Caldecott winning title, and one of the most sought after children's titles; still. VG/NF; flaws noted.
Seller: Medium Rare Books, Mountainside, NJ, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper & Row Publishers, 1963.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Edition, First Printing with "Copyright © 1963 by Maurice Sendak Printed in the United States of America All right reserved Library of Congress catalog card number: 63-21253" printed on the title page. This copy is SIGNED by Maurice Sendak on a laid in signature. The book is in very good condition with minor wear to the edges and boards. The book is bound in the original publisher's cloth with light wear to the spine. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A lovely copy SIGNED by the author with a beautiful facsimile dustjacket from the original.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper & Row, New York, 1963.
Price: US$7500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with Library of Congress catalog card number:63-21253 printed on the title page. Later editions do NOT have the card number. A wonderful copy. The book is in excellent condition. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning. The boards are crisp with minor wear to the edges. The pages are exceptionally clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a beautiful copy of this TRUE FIRST EDITION SIGNED by the author housed in a custom clamshell slipcase for preservation.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper & Row Publishers, New York, 1963.
Price: US$10000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with an ORIGINAL drawing by Maurice Sendak that is also INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author This is the TRUE FIRST EDITION with the Library of Congress catalog card number: 63-21253 and 1963 copyright printed on the title page. This early issue dustjacket is vibrant in color with minor wear to the edges. The book is bound in the publisher's pictorial cloth and is in excellent condition. The binding is tight and the boards are crisp. The pages are clean NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A wonderful copy of this First Edition SIGNED by the author.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper & Row Publishers, New York, 1963.
Price: US$15000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with an ORIGINAL drawing by Maurice Sendak that is also INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author. This ORIGNAL First Issue dustjacket is rich in color with NO chips or tears and has benefited from some professional restoration.This is the TRUE FIRST EDITION with the Library of Congress catalog card number: 63-21253 and 1963 copyright printed on the title page. The book is in great shape. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning. The pages are clean NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A beautiful copy of this First Edition SIGNED by the author housed in a custom clamshell box.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper & Row, New York, 1963.
Price: US$17500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with ALL the First Issue points. This copy is authentically SIGNED by Maurice Sendak A magnificent dustjacket that is vibrant in color with slight wear to the edges. This First Issue dustjacket has the $3.50 price present and ALL the First Issue points such as three paragraph blurb about the book. The book is in great shape. The binding is tight, and the boards are crisp with slight wear to the edges. The pages are clean with NO marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a stunning copy SIGNED by the author. We buy SIGNED Sendak First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
SENDAK, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper & Row, New York, 1963.
Price: US$20000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition with the publisher's price and the correct first issue code on the front flap. Cloth and papercovered illustrated boards. A bit of foxing to the boards, near fine in a modestly toned, very good dustwrapper with a couple of faint splash marks. Nicely Inscribed by Sendak in 1966 with a small drawing of a dog.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$20000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. Harper & Row, 1963 first edition, inscribed on half-title "For Vera, Indeed a first! Maurice Sendak May '92" with drawing of the head of Moishe the Wild Thing, first issue dust-jacket, price-clipped, lightly toned, 8mm. tear to front panel, slightly longer tear at foot of spine [Hanrahan A58], oblong 4to, [New York], Harper & Row, 1963
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Price: US$22500.00 + shipping
Description: First Printing. Oblong quarto (25.5cm x 23.75cm); pictorial paper-covered boards and grey cloth backstrip; pictorial endpapers; dustjacket; [40]pp; illus. Inscribed by Sendak on the upper half-title page, surrounding a small drawing of Max: "Jan.9, 63 / For Richard + Sandy / with much affection! Maurice Sendak." Gentle sunning to upper and lower board edges, light wear to spine ends and lower board edges, with minute exposure to one lower corners, and a shallow (1/2 cm) indentation to cloth at lower front joint; contents fresh, with the binding sound; Near Fine. In the correct dustjacket, without the Caldecott Medal sticker on the front panel, priced $3.50 at upper front flap, with lower corner clipped by the publisher, next to a 40-80 / 1163 code; modest wear, sunning, and dust-soil to spine and panels, shallow loss to spine ends, with two closed tears to lower panels closest to the spine, another to upper front joint, and a few small, faint splash marks to lower half of spine (most evident on verso); an unrestored, Very Good example. An excellent copy of what is perhaps the best-loved and most distinguished illustrated children's book of the 20th century, one that the American Institute of Graphic Arts called "the perfect book." Inscribed by Sendak to Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and translator Richard Howard (1929-2022) and his then partner, author and playwright Sanford Friedman (1928-2010). Howard and Sendak both spent time on Fire Island during the 1960s, where Sendak wrote Where the Wild Things Are, and the men were part of a tightly-knit circle of queer authors and artists in New York during that period. By the mid-1970s, Howard and Sendak had drifted apart, though this copy is evidence of a once closer friendship. While erroneously dated (the book was published in November, 1963 this copy was actually inscribed on January 9, 1964, not 1963), it still remains among the earliest recorded inscriptions in copies of Where the Wild Things Are. The earliest we have traced were all inscribed (likely as holiday gifts) in December, 1963, to illustrator Hilary Knight, Sendak's friend and psychoanalyst Bert Slaff, and to Louise Halsey. Hanrahan A58; Grolier 97 (One Hundred Books Famous in Children's Literature).
Seller: Captain Ahab's Rare Books, ABAA, Stephenson, VA, U.S.A.