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First edition of Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon; inscribed by Johnson to close friend and fellow Children's Book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak
JOHNSON, CROCKETT. [MAURICE SENDAK].
Harold and the Purple Crayon.
New York: Harper & Brothers 1955.
First edition, first issue of the first book in Crockett Johnson’s charming Harold series, first issue with “30-60” and “No. 5671A” to the front flap of the dust jacket. 12 mo, original cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to fellow children’s book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, “To Maury, with fond regards, Crockett Johnson.” The recipient, Maurice Sendak, is best known for his immensely popular illustrated children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964 and gained him international fame. Sendak, Johnson, and Johnson’s wife Ruth Krauss were introduced by Harper & Row publisher and editor-in-chief of juvenile books Ursula Nordstrom in 1952. Nordstrom facilitated the partnership of Krauss and Sendak as author and illustrator of Krauss’ A Hole Is to Dig (1952), which launched Sendak’s career and was published 3 years before Harold and the Purple Crayon. Sendak would go on to illustrate seven additional Krauss titles, and their collaborations became something of a cultural phenomenon, spawning a host of imitators of their “unruly” and “rebellious” child protagonists. These “good books for bad children” became Nordstrom’s trademark, who disliked the genteel, sentimental tone of earlier American children’s literature and sought to change its purpose to appeal to children’s imaginations and emotions, rather than serve as adult-approved morality tales. In addition to Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955) and Where the Wild Things Are (1963), Nordstrom edited and published numerous milestones of children’s literature, including E. B. White’s Stuart Little (1945) and Charlotte’s Web (1952), Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon (1947), Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy (1964), and Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree (1964). Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional association. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by the Harcourt Bindery.
Price: $40,000.00 Item Number: 135433
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"For Maurice with many thanks for the Future!": Exceptional association copy of Dr. Seuss' The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins; inscribed by him to fellow children's book legend Maurice Sendak
SEUSS, DR. [THEODOR SEUSS GEISEL]; MAURICE SENDAK.
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.
New York: The Vanguard Press 1938.
First edition, early printing of Seuss’s unique book of prose. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the pastedown, “For Maurice with many thanks for the Future! Dr. Seuss.” The recipient, Maurice Sendak, is best known for his immensely popular illustrated children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964 and gained him international fame. Sendak acquired the present volume, which had been previously signed by Seuss on the verso of the front free endpaper “For Alice, Best Wishes – Dr. Seuss”, and brought it to the July 1, 1980 American Library Association Conference in New York where Seuss inscribed it personally to him, as is notated in Sendak’s small ownership inscription above Seuss’s. At that time, Sendak and Seuss would have been two of the most popular, and perhaps even controversial best-selling children’s author in attendance. Sendak’s career was launched in 1952 with the publication of Ruth Krauss’s A Hole Is to Dig. Their author-illustrator collaboration, facilitated by Harper & Row publisher and editor-in-chief of juvenile books Ursula Nordstrom, became something of a cultural phenomenon, spawning a host of imitators of their “unruly” and “rebellious” child protagonists. Now one of the scarcest and most desirable books in modern children’s literature, Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are faced many opponents and was banned in several libraries upon publication in 1963. Its challengers accused the work as being “too dark” and “traumatizing” to young children due to its often frightening imagery.” It would become one of many “good books for bad children” edited and published by Nordstrom who disliked the genteel, sentimental tone of earlier American children’s literature and sought to change its purpose to appeal to children’s imaginations and emotions, rather than serve as adult-approved morality tales. American children’s author and illustrator Theodore Seuss Geisel produced some of the most popular children’s books of all time under the pen name Dr. Seuss. Although most recognized for his vivid and original drawing style, Geisel’s works also carried a complexity that went beyond the function of entertaining children; many of his works had an autobiographical undertone and were written to be intentionally divergent from traditional children’s books. Rather than write stories to convey morals to children, many of Geisel’s stories expressed strong views on current social and political issues. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. An exceptional association.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 135672
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“There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”: 25th Anniversary Edition of Where the Wild Things Are; Signed by Maurice Sendak with a Large Original Drawing
SENDAK, MAURICE.
Where the Wild Things Are.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers 1988.
Signed limited edition of the 25th anniversary of this classic work, one of 220 examples specially bound and signed by Maurice Sendak with an original Wild Thing drawing by Sendak. Very good in a very good slipcase. Uncommon.
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 142070
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"so, sue me": Large Original Drawing by Maurice Sendak
SENDAK, MAURICE.
Original Drawing by Maurice Sendak.
: 1993.
Original Maurice Sendak pencil drawing on artist’s vellum. Signed and inscribed by Maurice Sendak to Arthur Yorinks: “Feb. 6-13, 1993. So Sue Me. To Arthur – with all my love! Maurice.” Pencil draft for the backdrop of the play “So, Sue Me” written and directed by Arthur Yorinks and performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in 1993. The pencil draft appears in Tony Kushner’s “The Art of Maurice Sendak, 1980 to the Present”, along with with the final full-color illustration. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 16.75 inches by 15.5 inches.
Price: $4,800.00 Item Number: 27044
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Rare original Maurice Sendak "So Sue Me" Costume Design; Signed by him
SENDAK, MAURICE .
Maurice Sendak “So Sue Me” Signed Original Costume Design.
: 1993.
Rare original Maurice Sendak watercolor costume design for Arthur Yorinks’ 1993 play “So Sue Me”. One page, watercolor and ink on cardstock, Sendak has signed and annotated the design, “So, Sue me. Costume design M. Sendak Feb. 93.” In fine condition.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 117308
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"Did you ever here of Mickey, how he heard a racket in the night, and shouted Quiet down there!": First Edition of In The Night Kitchen; Inscribed by Maurice Sendak
SENDAK, MAURICE.
In the Night Kitchen.
New York: Harper & Row Publishers 1970.
First edition of Sendak’s classic work. Quarto, original cloth with illustrated paper cover label, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Nicholas Robertson Maurice Sendak Dec. 85.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $1,200.00 Item Number: 140617
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“Oh, please don't go—we'll eat you up—we love you so!”: Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are; inscribed by him
SENDAK, MAURICE.
Where the Wild Things Are.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers 1974.
Early printing of one of the most desirable books in modern children’s literature. Oblong quarto, original cloth backed pictorial paper boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Nicholas Roberston Maurice Sendak Dec. 85.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $1,100.00 Item Number: 140678
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Where the Wild Things Are; Signed by Maurice Sendak
SENDAK, MAURICE.
Where the Wild Things Are.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers 1963.
Early edition of one of the most desirable books in modern children’s literature. Oblong quarto, original cloth backed pictorial paper boards. Boldly signed by Maurice Sendak on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $1,050.00 Item Number: 139431
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Where the Wild Things Are; Inscribed by Maurice Sendak
SENDAK, MAURICE.
Where the Wild Things Are.
New York: Harper & Row, Publishers 1963.
First edition of the 25th anniversary edition of one of the most desirable books in modern children’s literature. Oblong quarto, original cloth backed pictorial paper boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Gloria Burton Maurice Sendak.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 138761
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First edition of Robert Garvey's Good Shabbos, Everybody; illustrated by Maurice Sendak
GARVEY, ROBERT. ILLUSTRATED BY MAURICE SENDAK.
Good Shabbos, Everybody.
: United Synagogue of America 1951.
First edition of charming picture book celebrating the Shabbat, with early illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Octavo, original pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Leonard Weisgard, Art Consultant. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.
Price: $600.00 Item Number: 127020