Walt Disney’s Bambi: Based on the Original Story by Felix Salten.

DISNEY, Walt.

Item Number: 128435

New York: Golden Press, 1949.

First Big Golden Book edition of Melvin Shaw’s storybook adaptation of the classic Walt Disney motion picture, Bambi. Quarto, original laminated pictorial boards, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Walt Disney opposite the title page, “To John Michael With Best Wishes Walt Disney.” In very good condition. Scarce and desirable signed by Disney.

Pre-production for Walt Disney’s adaptation of Felix Salten’s classic tale began as early as 1936 and was intended to be Disney’s second full-length animated film after Snow White (1937). His insistence on perfection and quest for realism, however, delayed the project significantly, so that four other Disney films were released before Bambi in 1942. Bambi was animated by Disney’s legendary “nine old men”— including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl and Eric Larson. This is the book version of Walt Disney’s Bambi, designed to promote the movie, illustrated throughout with 14 full-page color images from the film and 54 in-text half-tone cartoons. With the “Bambi Gallery” of four removable color plates, “easily taken out and used for framing,” still intact at the front of the book.