The Children's Country Book – Kathleen Stephen

Description: This very scarce book introduces children to the most common species of woodland birds and animals. Ranging from "sly foxes" and "shy badgers" to "summer swallows" and "jewels in blue" (kingfishers), the text follows a somewhat unusual convention in being part fiction, part educational. Readers join Tom and Betty as they follow Farmer Brown, who explains each animal's characteristics to the pair – although we never actually see him or the two children.

Exquisite full-colour illustrations on every facing page. Pastedowns and endpapers are illustrated in greyscale and depict a variety of woodland animals sitting together, whilst two tiny children (slightly taller than a blade of grass) look on.

Glazed pictorial boards. Upper corners bumped and lightly rubbed; lower are straight. Spine bumped and rubbed at ends. Neat gift inscription in blue ink on verso. The book is in superb internal condition. Thanks largely to the glossy paper on which the pages have been printed, they are crisp, bright, unmarked, and completely free from foxing or tanning.

Undated first edition.

Measures 26 cm × 21 cm (10.4″ × 8.4″). 4to. Unpaginated.

Price: £50.00