PADDINGTON RACES AHEAD. [Illustrated by R. W. Alley.**]LLUSTRATED

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [Complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.] NFINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj. Bright,crisp, clean,matt,running Paddington Bear colour illustration by Peggy Fortnum illustrated front of dw/dj with author's capitalised,black-lettered name and capitalised white-lettered title within a narrow horizontal red band at top edge and black lettered strpline and illustrator's (Peggy Fortnum) credit at lower edge; spine/backstrip with thumbnail white silhouette of Paddington at its head,capitalised,black-lettered title+author name and publisher's black-lettered+illustarted colophon respectively,to foot of same,a matt white background rear panel of dw/dj with thumbnail b/w line illustrations of Paddington in various poses towards it's fore-edge and a critic's (Stephen Fry) black-lettered quote.Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners – rear top corner minisculely rubbed - but no other nicks,tears or splits present,front inner flap's top corner with an accidental corner crease.Top+fore-edges slightly aged/toned - fore-edges slightly darker than the top's but both without foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips – appears unread, apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean/unblemished, sharp-cornered,original plain white paper-covered boards with bright,crisp,blocked black ink lettering - a thumbnail Paddington Bear black line illustration to head of spine/backstrip,and title+author name to same,and immaculate plain red endpapers.UK,slim, small 8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated 1st edn,7-173pp [paginated] includes 7 chapters,b/w line illustrated chapter headpieces and other b/w line illustrations all by R.W. Alley. throughout the text and the book; plus [unpaginated] half-title,thumbnail b/w line illustrated title page,a thumbnail b/w illustrated Contents list/table and to the rear,2pp blanks the verso of which,also with a thumbnail b/w line illustration. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation,for a book of its 10+ year-old age and nature, i.e. a children's book. It is only the minimal faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading overall.Despite them,it really is still an exceptional example for its cleanliness and lack of other detracting faults. Somehow Paddington always manages to find himself in very unusual situations.So it is no surprise when he gets in a spot of bother with some shaving cream,causes a London bus to be evacuated and is mistaken for a Peruvian hurdler.There's never a dull moment when a certai bear is around! Paddington Bear has been delighting adults and children alike with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures for over fifty years. Want more Michael BOND titles? Please search the rest of my CHILDRENS/ILLUSTRATED,and MODERN FIRSTS catalogues for similar and other 'PADDINGTON', 'Monsieur Pamplemousse', 'Parsley', 'Olga da Polga' and 'J.D. Polson' titles/ stories. The Folio Society also prides itself on producing series of an author's works which regular publishers might not think economic - in several cases it is only possible to acquire forgotten books by major writers in Folio Society editions - see my book ID rja704317 for an Folio Society exclusive 12 volume set+ slipcase published for HarperCollins in 2010 and illustrated by Peggy Fortnum.
R. W. Alley has illustrated Paddington's adventures for 20 years.An author and illustrator of many books for children,he lives in Rhode Island,USA,with his wife,the children's book author Zoe B. Alley. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **