The Robber Hotzenplotz - 1965 Library Edition - F.J. Tripp

An early English-language edition of the beloved German children's adventure Der Rauber Hotzenplotz, first published in Germany in 1962. When the notorious robber Hotzenplotz steals Grandmother's musical coffee mill, the resourceful Kasperl and Seppel set out to recover it, encountering a bumbling police sergeant, the magician Petrosilius Zackelmann, and a mysterious fairy along the way. Preussler's lively storytelling draws upon Central European folk traditions and puppet-theater comedy, accompanied by F. J. Tripp's wonderfully expressive pen-and-ink illustrations. Anthea Bell's translation preserves the story's playful dialogue and comic characterizations. Good condition; illustrated hardcover, no dust jacket. Original cream-colored pictorial boards printed in black and red, with illustrated front and rear covers and red spine lettering. The publisher's rear-board oval identifies this as an Abelard-Schuman Library Edition with guaranteed reinforced binding. Boards show general soiling, age-related discoloration, rubbing, and wear to corners and spine extremities. Interior pages exhibit moderate age toning. Pencil and ink library notations appear on the copyright page, while a heavy black marker cancellation is present on a rear blank/endpaper. The rear pastedown and facing endpaper have extensive black marker markings, adhesive residue, and evidence of removed labels or attachments. The book retains its original illustrated covers and interior artwork. The copyright page states that the English translation was first published in 1964 and first published in the United States in 1965; this copy represents the publisher's reinforced library-binding issue, with no printing number identified. Abelard-Schuman was a relatively small but influential mid-century publisher, particularly active in children's and young-adult literature. The firm was operated by Lew and Frances Schwartz, with Frances specializing in juvenile publishing. Institutional library sales were a central part of its business. Otfried Preussler (1923-2013) was one of Germany's best-known children's authors. His stories combine fairy-tale traditions, folklore, mischievous humor, and memorable characters. The Robber Hotzenplotz became one of his signature creations and developed into a series. Franz Josef Tripp (1915-1978) was a German illustrator whose expressive line drawings helped define the visual identity of Preussler's books. He also illustrated Michael Ende's Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver. His work is particularly recognizable for its humorous caricatures, eccentric costumes, and energetic pen-and-ink compositions. Anthea Bell (1936-2018) was a highly regarded British literary translator, particularly celebrated for her translations of German-language children's literature and the Asterix comics. Her involvement gives this edition additional significance in the history of German children's literature in English translation.…