The Very Hungry Caterpillar

New York and Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, 1969. First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine/very good. Carle, Eric. First printing, oblong quarto, 28 pp., in first issue dust jacket. Eric Carle (1929-2021) is known world-wide for this, his third book, which has been translated into more than 60 languages and has sold more than 50 million copies, garnering numerous awards along the way including the American Institute of Graphic Arts Award in 1970 and the Nakamori Reader's Prize in Japan in 1975; Carle was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 2003 by the American Library Association and was a U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award (truncated) in 2010.

Carle's style consists of using hand-painted tissue papers and creating a collage, which is then reproduced via offset colour lithography. This book, with its multiple die-cut pages as the caterpillar eats his way through various foodstuffs, created such a challenge for US printers that the publisher eventually found a printer in Japan.

___DESCRIPTION: This copy bound in decorated cloth over boards (per Loker, the first issue was bound in either cloth or glossy boards), the image of a caterpillar on the front and a leaf on the back, code of "A3450" printed on the back board near the bottom joint, decorative endpapers, copyright page begins with "1" denoting the first printing; oblong quarto (11 7/8" by 8 3/8"), unpaginated with [28] pp. per Loker (irregular collation). The matching publisher's dust jacket has the same design on the front and back panels (including the code of "A3450"), front flap has both corners clipped (apparently the case with every copy of the first issue, including the author's own copy), this copy with a sticker at the upper corner of the front flap upon which is marked a price of "3.95", summary of the book on the front flap, picture of the author with his two children on the back flap with short author bio.

___CONDITION: Volume near fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; some areas of very light wear to the cloth, most noticeable at the head and tail of the spine (the cloth not rubbed, rather the colour is wearing away) and a few, scattered, very light marks to the leaf and caterpillar designs, the interior with a few minute specks of foxing, else fine. The dust jacket (clipped, as apparently were all copies) very good; complete, the colours on both panels deep and true, a few light spots of soil and overall minor edgewear, most noticeable at the head and tail of the spine with very small chips at the joints, but no loss of text (please see pictures and request more if needed).

___CITATION: Loker, One Hundred Books, no. 99.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: CNFBV47)