Little Fur Family by Margaret Brown, Real (4 results)

The book tells the story of a little fur family that live in a tree trunk in the woods. The story showcases the little fur child as he leaves his house and explores the surrounding woods for the day. He encounters other creatures like him, as well as others that are very different, such as a fish and a flying bug. In one of the book's most memorable sequences, he even encounters a tiny version of himself, which he kisses and sends it on its way. At the end of the day he returns home to dinner with his parents who then tuck him in and sing him to sleep. This book was one of the first collaborations between writer Margaret Brown and illustrator Garth Williams. Little Fur Family was a notable due to its fur cover. The original edition of the book was entirely wrapped in real rabbit fur. This first edition had 50,000 copies printed, and it has been estimated that 15,000 rabbits were killed and skinned to provide enough fur for the covers. It came in a pictorial box with circular cut-out in the bear's stomach through which the fur protrudes. Later editions of the book only featured a patch of fur, mostly like fake fur, on the front cover.This is the first edition of this book, completely covered in rabbit's fur. The front fur cover is torn, but the fur covering makes it barely noticeable unless one opens the book. There is some slight deterioration stains on the pages where the paper has been in contact with glue used to adhere the fur. It comes in its original box, which is slighted browned and rubbed in the corners. This used to be a library copy so there are a few partial library stamps still visible on the box.

HARDCOVER. Condition: Very Good+. Garth Williams (illustrator). 1st edition. unpaginated 16mo, 2.5" 4", pictorial boards under real fur covers in original pictorial box, The book fits securely in the box which has an open hole to allow the fur to pass through at the bear's tummy, tight binding, clean and colorful throughout, toning to the first and last page from fur "flaps", the box is complete with nice color and distinct illustration, box has toned Very Good+ in Very Good+ box.

First printing. First edition of this experimental little book bound in actual rabbit fur. Brown published LITTLE FUR FAMILY at a time when her editor at Harper, the magnificent Ursula Nordstrom, was looking for innovative ideas and novelty formats for children's books in response to the quickly expanding market of the post-WWII Baby Boom. This book began as a handmade production by Brown herself, a quaint production containing a miniature book tucked into real rabbit fur: a small, warm and fuzzy item for a child's bedside table. As a 2022 NEW YORKER Anna Holmes profile of Brown explained: "[Her] most aesthetically provocative book was also one of her most adorable: in 1946, she published 'Little Fur Family,' in collaboration with Garth Williams, who later illustrated E.B. White's 'Charlotte's Web.' For the first edition [.] Brown insisted that the book's cover be wrapped entirely in the fur of New Zealand rabbits. The result prompted one child to try to feed his dinner to his copy of the book and another to offer her copy to a pet kitten as a companion." (With credit to Anthony Tedeschi, Curator of Rare Books and Fine Printing at the Alexander Turnbull Library, for alerting us to this source.) The rather gruesome requirement was soon dropped, however, and later issues are bound in an imitation fur. Brown's biographer Leonard Marcus has suggested the rabbit fur was inspired by the work of the Surrealist artist Méret Oppenheim, whose 1936 "Object (or Luncheon in Fur)," famously covered a teacup, saucer, and spoon with gazelle fur. This copy retains the original box, also illustrated by Williams, with a peek-a-book hole cut into the top so that the soft fur could be touched while still protected in the box. The fur tends to wear away from handling; this is a well-preserved copy. 3.25'' x 2'' (text block); 5.25'' x 3.75'' (box). Original rabbit-fur-covered boards, in original pictorial box with circular cut-out. Illustrated in color by Garth Williams. [28] pages. Some offsetting to leaves from rabbit fur, a few spots of soil to text. Box soiled and toned, lightly scuffed; a couple repairs and one reinforcement to lid. Very good plus in very good box.

First Edition. BROWN, Margaret Wise. Little Fur Family. New York: Harper Brothers, 1946. 12mo, original full rabbit fur, original cardboard box. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $7500.Rare first edition, bound in rabbit fur, with the original illustrated box, signed on the title page by Margaret Wise Brown the only copy of any Margaret Wise Brown book we have ever encountered signed by her.Margaret Wise Brown's most whimsically designed book follows the adventures of a "little fur animal" as he explores his world. Beautifully illustrated by Garth Williams, of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little fame, this scarce first edition is bound in real rabbit fur. "The diminutive 1946 rabbit-fur-bound edition had proven difficult to store (moths got into Harper's warehouse, destroying a large quantity of the first printing)" (Marcus, 33). Consequently, later editions had imitation fur or no fur at all. In the original publisher's illustrated box with circular cut-out, through which real fur shows. Later editions were also larger than this edition, as its small size made it difficult for libraries to carry on their shelves. Book about-fine, slight soiling to rear panel only of box. An excellent copy, very scarce and desirable signed by Brown. Signed.