The Roald Dahl Treasury.**

UK,Qrto HB+dw/dj,1st edn.NFINE/NFINE.Neat,ink,gift presentation inscrptn (Christmas 1998) to front paste-down,price-clip to dw/dj. Glossy laminated,colour pictorial artwork by Quentin Blake illustrated dw/dj; with minimal shelf-wear and creasing to edges - two miniscule closed tears to head of spine/backstrip and top rear corner respectively.Miniscule rubbing to corners;bumped to middle of top edge of front bd and also to head of spine/ backstrip with reciprocal creasing.Top+fore-edges minimally thumbed,but generally clean; contents bright, tight and clean - no dog-ear reading creasing to any pages' corners.Bright,clean,red paper-covered boards with bright yellow ink impressed letters to spine/backstrip with clean,cream endpapers.UK,Qrto HB+dw/dj,1st edn,4- 444pp includes half-title page,colour vignette Quentin Blake illustrated title page,colour vignetted illustrated contents list (Quentin Blake), Tom Maschler intro [Dahl's publisher], contrib by Ophelia Dahl,short illustrated story by Ralph Steadman; thematic Parts (1-4),profuse colour illustrations - part+full+ double-page throughout the text and book by assorted illustrators but principally Quentin Blake. For another UK,1st edn of this same title - see my book ID rja857619. American illustrator and writer of children's books,Lane Smith did the illustrations for US, Random House,1996 HB,James and the Giant Peach and which appear in this edn.See my book IDs' rja1088223 and rja1088323 for examples of his work: 'Cat Problems' and 'Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! respectively. The Roald Dahl Treasury brings together some of the most dazzling moments in the work of this extraordinary writer.In this collection we see Roald in all his moods and it shows why his writing has become an essential part of childhood.Four themed sections - Animals; Magic; Family,Friends and Foes; and Matters of Importance - take the reader on a journey into Roald Dahl's unique imagination.In each section,you will find complete stories, extracts from longer fiction,rhymes and memoirs as well as some previously unpublished poetry and letters.A host of Roald Dahl's best-loved characters are here,from the Enormous Crocodile to Willy Wonka,from the Minpins to the Twits,from James to Matilda. The Roald Dahl Treasury features a large number of pictures by Quentin Blake,Roald Dahl's principal and favourite illustrator; many of these have been drawn especially for this collection. In addition there is work by a few selected artists: Patrick Benson, Raymond Briggs, Babette Cole, Bert Kitchen, Lane Smith, Posy Simmonds, Ralph Steadman, Fritz Wegner and Christopher Wormell. "Above all," Roald Dahl once implored his readers,"watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." You will find a touch of magic on every single page of this book.It is the perfect gift for any child (if there is such a child) unfamiliar with the work of Roald Dahl - just as it is perfect for all Dahl's fans.Roald Dahl is the most important children's writer of this century (then 1997).His stories and rhymes will delight children and adults long into the next. Roald Dahl's own favourite and principal illustrator,Blake illustrated several other books of the author's work,during the author's lifetime.He has also written and illustrated a great many of his own.Blake was the first Children's Laureate from 1999-2001. Quentin Blake,born 1932,Sidcup,Kent.Son of a civil servant. Educated at Chiselhurst, Sidcup Grammar School and Cambridge University.Attended life classes at Chelsea College of Art.Tutor in illustration at the Royal College of Art (1965-78) and Head of the Illustration Dept since 1978.He works in pen and ink and watercolour in a popular and unmistakeable style,capturing essential character and movement with wit and gaiety in a few rapid strokes.He has illustrated many editions of the BBC Jackanory television programme. Please contact seller @ rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the weight of this item - in excess of 1.5 Kg unpackaged,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - 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. **