Mei Li [with an Autograph Letter Signed]

SIGNED FIRST EDITION WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTER. Signed by author/illustrator Thomas Handforth on opening blank. Laid in loose is a fine 20-line Autograph Letter Signed, reflecting the author's on the verso of a 4.25 x 5.5 inch original photograph of Stanford University, with mailing envelope in Handforth's hand postmarked Palo Alto, January 3rd, 1947. The letter reads in part: '. It was good to. know that I am not forgotten in Seattle. At this moment I am not at all sure when I will be back - perhaps the sooner would be the better as I've not gotten around to settling here yet. But actually I was packed to fly to N.Y. the day after Christmas. At the last minute I cancelled the reservation. A Chinese theatre group arriving this month want me to do some publicity drawings for them - a N.Y. publisher wants me to hasten back to India to do a for them and I am irresolute about digging in here. Tom Handforth.' First edition (stated) in the original orange cloth with Chinese text in gilt on front cover and spine titling in gilt (cloth has fading and wear with some smudges, minor stains, and slight bumping to edges; no jacket). The text is clean and unmarked; the letter is crisp and fine. Second winner of the Caldecott Medal (1939), this work is considered a landmark in the history of picture books for its integration of text and image, grounded in Handforth's time spent in China, passion for Chinese art, and direct connection to the title character.…