Games for Children - FIRST EDITION

The rare, true 1931 first edition of Games for Children by the celebrated children's nature and fiction writer Cecily M. Rutley, published natively by Thomas Nelson & Sons, London. Unlike the later, thick pulp-paper reissues of the mid-to-late 1930s, this genuine first printing features a slim 96-page format meticulously printed on a premium, heavy-grade art paper stock. The volume is beautifully complemented throughout by the traditional black-and-white text illustrations and plates of Phyllis Webb. The publisher's original illustrated hardcover boards retain bright exterior character with standard, honest signs of vintage handling, including uniform surface rubbing, minor edge wear, and rubbing to the spine extremities. Cover has slight pull, beginnings of hinge crack between title page and colourful frontispiece but binding of text block is firm. Internally, there is toning to end papers, otherwise the heavy-grade pages are exceptionally clean, crisp, and vibrant, free from children's doodles, modern highlighting, or heavy vintage foxing. The pastedown features a neat, contemporary previous owner's gift inscription dated 1931, providing charming historical provenance that firmly dates this true first printing. A lovely, highly complete piece of inter-war domestic history. Grading commensurate with age of book. Dispatched from the UK same or next working day.…