THE ZOOLAND POSTCARD PAINTING BOOK

Dundee and London: Valentine & Sons, Ltd, 1908. Very good.. First edition of this unusual Louis Wain title, a set of 10 postcards to be colored by a child - remarkably unused. Best known for his art of Catland, Louis Wain was far more than just an artist of felines. THE ZOOLAND POSTCARD PAINTING BOOK finds Wain applying his gently satyrical humanized style to elephants, bears, monkeys, hippos, and to big cats: a lion and a pair of tigers, in whose faces glimpses of Catland can be seen. Wain provided a coloring guide for young artists on the rear wrapper, though one wonders how closely a child would be able to emulate his handiwork. This title is also testament to the marketability of Wain's art in the pre-WWI UK - Wain lent his illustrations to numerous books, annuals, and even housewear. ZOOLAND, designed to be enjoyed and broken up, is quite a rare Wain item in any condition, let alone retaining all 10 of its postcards. 5'' x 7''. Original stiff color pictorial wrappers. Illustrated in black and white. [5] leaves each perforated to center, with postcard text to reverse. Wrappers with some edgewear, tiny chip to upper front corner; careful glue repair along spine. Postcards with a hint of toning. Sound and clean.