The Wind in the Willows by GRAHAME, Kenneth (1859-1932), [SHEPARD, Ernest H., illustrator]

London: Methuen and Co., 1931. [Children's classic] FIRST SHEPARD ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[vi]; 312; 10, advertisements dated 10.[19]31. Lavishly illustrated by Shepard. Publisher's green cloth, with Mole, Rat, and Mr Toad in gilt to front board, gilt titles to spine; top edge green, cartographic endpapers. Front cover of dust-wrapper shows the three protagonists next to a caravan, with titles and a portrait of Rat to spine, and a bankside scene to rear cover. Very light/faint spotting, booksellers ticket to pastedown, binding fine and bright, jacket a trifle edgeworn with some insignificant rubbing and toning to spine. A clean, near fine copy of the trade edition. Not a rare book, but now elusive in a decent jacket, presumably as copies were so enjoyed by young readers. Shepard's beautiful illustrations are the perfect companion for Grahame's elegant prose, and this combination does much to explain the enduring attraction of this story. Book Collector No.271, 'The Great Illustrators'.