A British collectibles dealer is selling a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh that it says is the rarest and most desirable first edition of the book.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is offering a first deluxe edition of the book that was recently voted the “best-loved children’s book of the past 150 years”.
Despite its age (the book came out in 1926) and popularity, first editions of the story are relatively easy to find.
As chairman of Paul Fraser Collectibles, Paul Fraser, explains: “AA Milne was already an established author by 1926. His When We Were Very Young from 1924 had been a success. And the first chapter of Winnie-the Pooh had previously appeared to huge acclaim in London’s Evening News in 1925. His publishers, Methuen, were confident Winnie-the-Pooh was going to be a success.”
The result was a very large first print run of the book.
These limited-edition copies were beautifully made and expensive when they were issued. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
However, alongside that standard first edition, a small number of very smart, deluxe copies were also produced.
Their leather binding, gilt decoration, and gilt page edges demanded a premium price. And only 3,000 copies were produced, 1,000 each in red, blue, and green respectively.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is selling a green-bound copy in “near-fine” condition that it says is one of just a handful of copies of its type and condition.
It even comes in its original box.
Mr Fraser adds: “The book also contains a lovely feature on the endpaper: a bookplate from its very first owners. Gerald and Lady Jeane Petherick. Gerald was a distinguished Captain in WWI. He married Jeane in 1914 at the start of the war. At the end of the conflict they settled down in Hampshire. Gerald worked as a Land Tax Commissioner. They raised their young children. And then in 1926 – 99 years ago – George and Jeane bought this very book.”
Pooh continues to charm and delight readers of all ages and collectors. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
The couple had two sons, David and Julian, who both probably read this book. One of them added a few small touches of red crayon to some of the the famous EH Shepard illustrations.
AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh is much loved by collectors as well as generations of young readers.
Earlier this year, an uncovered archive of papers relating to the author sold for £95,000 at auction.
The drawings by EH Shepard are extremely sought after. In 2014, an original Shepard showing Pooh and Christopher Robin playing together became the most valuable book illustration ever sold when it raised £314,500 in London.
Although first editions of the books aren’t extremely rare, they regularly go for hundreds or even thousands of pounds in good condition.
This super deluxe edition is for sale now at the Paul Fraser Collectibles website.
