Hardcover
by Bull, Johan (1893-1945)
Hardcover. Very Good. Mock-up manuscript for an unpublished children's book manuscript. N.d., circa 1930. Oblong, 25 by 38 cm. 15 pages of illustrated text following the manuscript cover. In addition, there are three matted illustrations of the semi-abstract animal motives found on the front cover. It is unknown with any certainty why this immensely charming, and very professional, manuscript was never published. It is our conjecture that the manuscript was submitted early in the Depression when publishers were cutting back on the children's book list, and especially color illustrated books, both because of the economic straits they were suffering like virtually every industry in the American economy, and more specifically, perhaps, changes in the marketplace for children's books, with some shift of buying from families to public libraries, with a subsequent drop in overall sales as a result. Nonetheless, this manuscript was intended by Bull to be published, as on the back cover there is a label indicated that the manuscript had been submitted by Fred A. Wish, Inc., presumably Bull's literary agent. The book is a small collection of nonsense verses about animals around a house -- cats, dogs, mice, chickens, ducks. Each of the poems runs one to two pages, and is accompanied by one to five illustrations, with the text and illustrations pasted onto the heavy card stock leaves. Condition: card leaves are detached from spine band. A few minor edge chips to cards.
(Inventory #: 006222)