STEAMBOAT BILL AND THE CAPTAIN'S TOP HAT [First UK edition in dustwrapper]

Irwin Shapiro

Published by Shakespeare Head Press, 24 Russell Square, London, W.C.1, 1945

About this Item

First impression of the first UK edition, published by Shakespeare Head Press (in association with Basil Blackwell) in 1945. The book was first published two years earlier in the USA by Julian Messner, New York. Beautifully illustrated endpapers and coloured line drawings on every page by Donald McKay. ***Near fine in burnt-orange cloth-covered boards with black titles and illustration to the front board. The titles are nice and bright, and the boards are beautifully clean, having been protected by the dustwrapper - just a small mark to the cloth on the back board. No bumps, creases or tears. Corners sharp. The cloth of the spine is not torn and is beautifully clean and bright. Internally, the book is also near fine, with no inscriptions and clean pages. No offsetting, just some very light and sporadic foxing marks to the printed pages. The interior pages are uncreased. Illustrated endpapers. Spine tight. ***In a near fine original colour printed dustwrapper, that has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 5s. net. The dustwrapper is complete, with just minuscule loss and rubbing at the top of the spine. Slight creasing and rubbing to the extremities. The orange colour has faded slightly on the spine. The dustwrapper is really clean and bright, and presents very well. [please see scans] ***Unpaginated but 46 printed pages. 230 mm x 150 mm. ***'The whole thing started when the Whippoorwill came steaming up to the levee at St. Louis one sunny day, with her white decks shining and her five-toned whistle going full blast. At the wheel in the pilot house was Steamboat Bill. He had a big cigar in his mouth; his cap was perched on the back of his head and his coat was open to show his fancy checked vest. Anybody could see he was a mighty man. There never was any doubt about that, for since the great days of Mississippi steamboating river men have sung the ballad of Steamboat Bill, the greatest river man of them all---.' [Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper] ***A first impression of the first UK edition, published at the end of the Second World War in 1945, in the original dustwrapper. A beautiful copy of this period children's book, in near fine condition. Copies of children's books from this period in such well-preserved condition are extremely scarce today. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 8316

Bibliographic Details

• Title: STEAMBOAT BILL AND THE CAPTAIN'S TOP HAT [First UK edition in dustwrapper]
• Publisher: Shakespeare Head Press, 24 Russell Square, London, W.C.1
• Publication Date: 1945
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Donald McKay
• Edition: First UK Edition
• Printing: First Impression
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature
  • First Editions
  • Children's Literature