RUPERT: A BEAR'S LIFE. by Perry, George. With Alfred Bestall - 1986

London: Pavilion, 1986. 169 pp, 9 5/8" H. Profusely illustrated in colour and b&w. "(T)ells the story of Britain's longest-lived children's comic character, Rupert Bear. Rupert commenced his existence in the pages of the Daily Express in 1920 and for generations of Britons he has been part of childhood mythology. The central character, apart from the small bear himself, is the late Alfred Bestall, who drew Rupert daily for thirty years. He was interviewed at length, and gave the book his full co-operation. The book assesses Rupert's popularity and includes full descriptions of the associated enterprises, the fan clubs, the annuals, the book reprints, the merchandising and his appearances on television, in the cinema as an animation, and even the notorious piracy in the underground paper, Oz. The evocative illustrations include not only familiar images of Rupert, but also material never before published from the archives of the Daily Express." Interior - gift inscription in ink on inside of front cover, small soft crease at top corner of first two pages, otherwise clean & tight with no other ownership marks. Exterior - faint crease down spine, small crease at top corner of front cover, laminate is loose at top of front hinge area, some small faint rub marks on edges of text block and at bottom of rear cover.. Second Impression.. Soft Cover. Very Good. Illus. by Alfred Bestall / Mary Tourtel..