Disney Animation, The Illusion of Life

New York: Abbeville Press, 1981. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Special Edition, quarto size, 575 pp., signed by the authors, with 12" of original Disney film. The definitive study of Disney film-making, the most complete book on the subject, signed by authors Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston who were long time animators at Disney Studios, and worked with Walt Disney and many other leading figures associated with Disney.

The book relates the history and techniques in developing Disney's beloved characters and its animation technology, as well as offering a massive collection of historic drawings, early sketches and many other rare (truncated) images taken from the archives of Walt Disney Productions. This is the Special Edition, which includes a foot of original film from a classic Disney feature. A Hollywood 100 book.

___DESCRIPTION: Original full red cloth with gilt illustration from Pinocchio to upper board, stamped in gilt to backstrip, yellow endpapers, the strip of film secured to the front pastedown by a mounted label which bears the signatures of Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, fully illustrated in both colour and black and white; quarto size (11 1/8" by 10 5/8"), [1-12] 13-575 pp., first and special edition, with postcard from the publisher slipped in. In a wrap-around pictorial dust jacket that shows the progression from a black-and-white sketch to a shaded illustration to the addition of colour and backgrounds, summary of the book on both front and back flaps, short bio of the authors on the back flap; the jacket is not clipped although there is no printed price. Housed in the publisher's slipcase with a pastedown, wrap-around illustration on all three sides, the top and bottom of the case covered with red paper, with a keyhole in the front.

___CONDITION: A fine copy, internally bright and free of prior owner markings, text block is tight and square with solid hinges, the covers are clean with bright gilt, no rubbing or fraying, completely without flaw; fine and as new. The unclipped (although no price present) dust jacket near fine, bright and clean, not sunned, with very minor edgewear and some shallow creasing to the bottom of the back flap. Slipcase is near fine, strong and sturdy, bright and clean with a few tiny spots of rubbing to the pictorial paper. A lovely composition showing how Disney worked its magic, which continues to entrance to this day.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an extremely heavy volume and additional postage may apply; please contact us for details. International customers, please note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

___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 #: 25051501)