1953 Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

Description

Colour Plates, Early Edition, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding, With Dustwrapper

The seventh impression. First published in 1939.

In the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper.

This copy belonging to Frances Sheldon-Williams, or Fran Hickox, an English artist and auctioneer for Christie's, who was known as the founder of Cornwall's St Endellion Festival, a music event which still takes place every Easter. With a letter, a christmas card and a note to Frances, from "B & Gerry".

A collection of whimsical poems from T. S. Eliot, written under the assumed name of 'Old Possum', a name Eliot used in letters to his godchildren.

This anthology forms the basis of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous 1981 musical 'Cats', and contains fifteen poems, including 'The Rum Tum Tugger', 'The Song of the Jellicles', 'Old Deuteronomy', and 'Mr Mistoffelees'.

First published in 1939 without illustrations, this work was quickly reissued in 1940 with the delightful sketches of Nicholas Bentley, the famed British author and illustrator best known for his humorous cartoon drawings in books and magazines in the 1930s and 1940s.

Illustrated with fourteen full colour plates, and numerous further vignette illustrations.

Collated, complete.