Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2009 Issue
Childhood Comes Alive in the Pages of Aleph-Bet Book
Sendak's Wild Thing and Mickey Mouse.
Here is another Frederick who was better known for his art than his writing, but who occasionally substituted a pen for a brush. Frederick Remington is one of the greatest artists and illustrators of the American West, but he also authored a few books. Item 485 is his first book, Pony Tracks, published in 1895. Remington, naturally, illustrated as well as wrote the book. $600.
Item 240 combines a classic children's work with America's patriot printer, Isaiah Thomas. Thomas moved his press from Boston to Worcester, Massachusetts, shortly before the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington in 1775 to protect it from the British. After the war, it was Thomas who began collecting every piece of printed Revolutionary history he could find, determined to preserve the very young nation's heritage. He founded the American Antiquarian Society, still going strong and still located in Worcester. In between being a patriot and historian, he was a regular printer. In 1787, he published the British child's classic The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes... This was long thought to be the first American edition, but an "impossible to find" edition was later discovered to have been published in New York in 1775. $7,500.
Item 119 is a 1900 first edition by L. Frank Baum. I know what you're thinking. No, it's not that one. Item 123 is a first edition Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but that same year Baum also published The Navy Alphabet. This is an alphabet book with naval themes. Obviously, it was not the success that his other book of that year was, this being a first and only edition. $3,000.
Here is a drawing that connects two of the great children's artists of the 20th century. Item 508 is a drawing by Maurice Sendak, signed and dated in 1987. It depicts Sendak's "Wild Thing" with Mickey Mouse. Aleph-Bet notes that Sendak had a great affinity for Mickey as both were "born" in the same year - 1928. $15,000.
Aleph-Bet Books may be reached at 914-764-7410 or Helen@alephbet.com. Their website is found at www.alephbet.com.
