THE PATCHWORK CAT.** [Illustrated by Nicola Bayley.**]

UK,slim Qrto HB,no dw/dj,as issued,illustrated,1st edn thus. [Originally published by JONATHAN CAPE (London),1981. This edn published as a Little Great edition,by Random House (London),1991.] FINE.No owner inscrptn,no dw/dj,as issued and no price removal from rear board.Bright,crisp, clean,generally sharp-cornered,glossy,colour pictorial artwork by Nicola Bayley,illustrated glazed boards front and rear; with repeated,capitalised brown-lettered LITTLE GREATS+illustrated colophon at top edge of front's colour,pictorial artwork illustration by Nicola Bayley within a white background,which in turn is on boards with sand-coloured background with triangular dark brown corner tips to front+rear fore-edge corners of boards,and a brown faux blind-spine.Front board with capitalised brown-lettered title and other brown-lettered illustrator+ author name to lower edge; spine/backstrip with brown tips at head+foot with publisher's brown+white illustrated colophon to foot,a white central strip with capitalised, brown-lettered title and publisher's name to foot respectively,rear board with a bordered,yellow panel with brown-lettered advertisement for other assorted titles in same series.Negligible shelf-wear to edges - no nicks,tears or splits present,almost scoring/indent-free,with little visible presence and immaculate plain custard yellow endpapers with no hinge cracking.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine,no foxing/spotting and no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,appears unread,other than my own collation.UK, slim Qrto HB,no dw/dj,as issued,illustrated,1st thus edn,32pp [unpaginated] includes a horizontal,small ovoid colour vignetted title page with a horizontal small,ovoid colour vignette and dedication to its verso,14 upright oval colour vignette illustrations throughout the book - facing the opposing text page which also has a small b/w illustrated tail-piece,and two other small,oval colour vignette illustrated tail-pieces for story's first and last text pages.
Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/ state of preservation and presentation,for a book of its 30+ year-old age and nature, i.e. a children's book.It is only the faults described that prevents a higher grading overall.It really is still an exceptional,exemplary example for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of detracting faults. When Tabby's favourite patchwork quilt goes missing,she is ready to track it down through thick and thin. . . . and what adventures she has before she brings it safely home!
Nicola Bayley,born Singapore,1949.Studied graphic design at St. Martin's School of Art and illlustration at the Royal College of Art.Soon after she left college,Jonathan Cape published her first illustrated children's book,'Nicola Bayley Book of Nursery Rhymes',which was outstandingly successful and was followed a year later by 'Tyger Voyage' - see my book ID's rja424112,rja424212 (miniature 1st edns/books) and rja424412,rja424512 for true UK,1st edns; both books were translated into seven languages.
The fantasy world that she paints is secure and tranquil and full of carefully worked detail.Her jewel-like colours are sometimes applied with a distinctive stippling technique to produce a varied texture.
Want more Nicola BAYLEY illustrated books/ titles? Please check my CHILDRENS/ILLUSTRATED catalogue for other and similar titles.
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