Collecting Childrens Picturebooks

First Edition Little House Fetches $9775 at PBA Galleries Auction

The first edition copy of the 1943 Caldecott Medal winning book The Little House we described in our May 2007 blog post sold for $9775 at the July 12, 2007 PBA Galleries children's book auction.

The first edition The Little House is very difficult to find, and we estimated the book would sell for close to $10,000. The Children's Picturebook Price Guide estimates a first edition The Little House to be valued at $5,000 in Very Good condition, so obviously the value must be modified upward.

The book auctioned was in 'Fine' condition, in a 'Fine' dust jacket.

Written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1942, The Little House first edition books do not surface for sale very often. There are currently none on the market.

The Little House - PBA Galleries Auction

From the PBA Auction description:

Item # : 182758

Description:

Illustrated by the author. 9x9¼, teal cloth pictorially stamped in cream, color pictorial jacket. First Edition.

Rare first edition of legendary elusiveness, an exceptional copy in dust jacket.

Condition:

Just a touch of shelf wear, else fine in fine jacket.

See here for actual auction description and results.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 07:57 AM | Permalink

First Edition Curious George Fetches $21850 at PBA Galleries Auction

The first edition copy of Curious George we described in our May 2007 blog post sold for $21,850 at the July 12, 2007 PBA Galleries children's book auction.

The first edition Curious George is quite rare, the PBA copy being the first to surface at auction in over a decade. Pre-auction estimates were over $10,000, however few thought the children's book would bring over $20,000.

Having never been out of print, and with over 25 million Curious George franchise books sold, this auction garnered quite a bit of interest from book collectors and book sellers.

The PBA Curious George Auction

From the PBA Auction description:

Item # : 182763

Description:

Illustrated in color by the author. 10¼x8¼, orange cloth pictorially stamped and lettered in brown, color pictorial yellow dust jacket. First Edition.

Rare first edition in dust jacket of the beloved children's tale featuring inquisitive ape Curious George and his captor/protector The Man in the Yellow Hat. Curious George made his literary debut in the French children's book titled Rafy and the Nine Monkeys. Before H.A. Rey and his wife Margret could submit to a publisher the sequel featuring George, the Nazis captured Paris, and the Jewish couple fled on bicycles to Lisbon with five manuscripts, among them Curious George. Following a brief sojourn in Brazil, the Reys made it to the United States, where they were able to find a publisher for the eventual classic. Besides influencing the consciousness of countless post-war children, the work is the basis for the recent movie, and the ongoing PBS television show. The book itself is quite rare in the first edition, but the jacket is virtually unobtainable. The present example of the jacket is unclipped, with the price of $1.75 present the top of the front flap; at the top of the rear flap is affixed the sticker of Bullock's Wilshire, with the detachable price (also $1.75) still present. No copies of Curious George are listed by American Book Prices Current as having been sold at auction since 1975, further evidence of the book's scarcity.

Condition:

Light dust-soiling to jacket, a few short tears (1¼" or smaller), small chips at spine ends; a few faint scratches to covers, else near fine in very good or better jacket.

See here for actual auction description and results.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 07:32 AM | Permalink

A first edition copy of Pumpkin Moonshine, Tasha Tudor's first book, is coming up for auction on July 12, 2007 at PBA Galleries.

Published by Oxford University Press in 1938, Pumpkin Moonshine first edition books do not surface for sale very often. There is currently only one first edition book with dust jacket on the market. The Children's Picturebook Price Guide estimates Pumpkin Moonshine to be valued at over $3,000 in Very Good condition. The first edition book being auctioned is in Near Fine condition, with a Very Good + dust jacket.

The photographs being displayed on this page are from the actual book being auctioned.

The July 12, 2007 PBA Galleries auction includes a rare first edition Curious George, along with a first edition The Little House, and a a first edition The Gremlins.

Pumpkin Moonshine Background

From the Women Children's Book Illustrators:

Pumpkin Moonshine published in 1938, was done as a gift for a young niece. The "dummy" book she took to editor Eunice Blake at Oxford University Press was bound in calico cloth. The publishers liked the look so well they produced Tudor's first five books in a calico-look binding, leading collectors to refer to Pumpkin Moonshine, Alexander the Gander, Linsey Woolsey, Dorcas Porkus and Country Fair as her "calico books."

Having illustrated nearly one hundred books, Tasha Tudor is well known for her delicate watercolor and ink illustrations. Tudor's artwork is often compared to Kate Greenaway and Beatrix Potter, which is not too surprising when one considers her 19th century lifestyle.

She had four children, and the Tudor's emulated a nineteenth-century rural lifestyle, on farms in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont. These homes often lacked electricity and running water. The Tudor's washed clothes by hand, learned to spin and weave, made bread from scratch, and decorated their homes with antique furniture. From her Tasha Tudor website:

Her home, though only 30 years old, feels as though it was built in the 1830's, her favorite time period. Seth Tudor, one of Tasha's four children, built her home using hand tools when Tasha moved to Vermont in the 1970's. Tasha Tudor lives among period antiques, using them in her daily life. She is quite adept at 'Heirloom Crafts', though she detests the term, including candle dipping, weaving, soap making, doll making and knitting. She lived without running water until her youngest child was five years old.

Tasha Tudor has received two Caldecott Honor Awards, in 1945 for Mother Goose, and again in 1957 for 1 Is One. Tasha Tudor also received the Regina Medal from the Catholic Library Association in 1971 for her contributions to children's literature. and an honorary doctorate from the University of Vermont.

First Edition Identification - Book

The key identifying point is no additional printings stated on the copyright page.

First Edition Identification - DJ

The key identifying point is the '$.75' price on the bottom of the front DJ flap.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A first edition copy of The Gremlins, the 1943 book written by Roald Dahl, is coming up for auction on July 12, 2007 at PBA Galleries.

A Walt Disney Production published by Random House in 1943, The Gremlins first edition books do not surface for sale very often. There are currently five first edition books with dust jacket on the market, ranging in price from $6000 to $2200, none of which are in as nice a condition as the book being offered. The first edition book being auctioned is in Near Fine condition, with a Near Fine dust jacket.

The photographs being displayed on this page are from the actual book being auctioned.

The July 12, 2007 PBA Galleries auction includes a rare first edition Curious George, along with a first edition The Little House, and a a first edition Pumpkin Moonshine.

The Gremlins Background

Roald Dahl served in the Royal Air Force as a fighter pilot and he became a Wing Commander. In 1940 Dahl's plane was hit by a machine gun fire, and he was severely injured. He was rescued by a fellow pilot and took him six months to recover.

Dahl was sent to the U.S. as an air attache. while his outspoken style made him unpopular with his Air chiefs, it made him a favorite of the cocktail set. He was sent back to England, and is said to have been recruited by the British Secret Service by 'Intrepid,' aka William Stephenson, who was trying inspire sufficient public sympathy to enable Roosevelt to openly support Britain. Dahl was sent back to the U.S. with a promotion, much to the chagrin of the Air chiefs.

In 1943, Dahl wrote The Gremlins, a book for children about the hazards of being an RAF pilot. The Gremlins were little havoc causing creatures, behind any mishaps experienced by pilots and their machines. RAF insider jokes blamed The Gremlins for all the technical malfunctions in airplanes. Gremlin jokes were widely used by the RAF during the World War II and so got into popular culture as well..

From Disney Goes To War:

"Walt Disney planned to make a cartoon film version of The Gremlins. The film was never made, some say because of the difficult task of making loveable creatures who exist solely to destroy Allied airplanes. Disney actively tried to stop others from making Gremlin cartoons, however. "

Dahl's presence in Washington came to the attention of Eleanor Roosevelt, who had been reading The Gremlins to her grandchildren. From Penguin Group Roald Dahl biography:

"Roald was never very keen on The Gremlins and didn’t really think of it as a children’s book. Nevertheless, it caught Eleanor Roosevelt’s eye and Roald became a not infrequent guest at the White House and FDR’s weekend retreat, Hyde Park. "

n 1953, Dahl married the actress Patricia Neal; two of his early children's books, James and the Giant Peach (1961) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) grew out of the bedtime stories he made up for their children. Both books have become children's classics, and turned into major motion pictures.

Elaine Moss, writing in the Times, called the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory "the funniest children's book I have read in years; not just funny but shot through with a zany pathos which touches the young heart."

Roald Dahl was an author and screenwriter whose awards include: Edgar Allen Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1954, 1959, and 1980 for being a " master of the macabre and the suprise denouement"; Federation of Children's Book Groups Award, 1983; Whitbread Award, 1983; and World Fantasy Convention Award, 1983. Dahl once said:

"“I’m probably more pleased with my children’s books than with my adult short stories. Children’s books are harder to write. It’s tougher to keep a child interested because a child doesn’t have the concentration of an adult. The child knows the television is in the next room. It’s tough to hold a child, but it’s a lovely thing to try to do."

First Edition Identification - Book

The key identifying point is the '1942' on the title page, and no additional printings stated on the copyright page.

First Edition Identification - DJ

The key identifying point is the '$1.00' price on the front DJ flap.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 08:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

First Edition Curious George Auction

A first edition copy of Curious George is coming up for auction on July 12, 2007 at PBA Galleries.

The first edition Curious George is quite rare, and some have estimated the book will sell for over $10,000. Having never been out of print, and with over 25 million Curious George franchise books sold, this auction will garner quite a bit of interest.

After extensive search, no auction records have been unearthed showing the sale of a first edition Curious George.

The photographs being displayed on this page are from the actual book being auctioned.

Curious George Background

Created by the husband and wife team of Hans Augusto and Margret Rey (who were living in Paris at the time), the mischievous monkey Curious George first appeared in the 1939 French book Rafi et les 9 Singes. The book was followed by its 1939 UK version Raffy And The 9 Monkeys.

In 1940, due to WWII, the Rey’s escaped Paris and circuitously found their way to New York. In 1941, Houghton Mifflin published Curious George, and the book has never been out of print. Curious George was followed by Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys in 1942, then the Rey's went on to publish five other books based upon the character.

Today, the Curious George franchise still runs strong, with over thirty different books in print. From Houghton Mifflin’s website:

For sixty years these books have been capturing the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. All the Curious George books, including the seven original stories by Margret and Hans, have sold more than twenty-five million copies. So popular that his original story has never been out of print, George has become one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children's literature. His adventures have been translated into many languages, including Japanese, French, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Swedish, German, Chinese, Danish, and Norwegian.

First Edition Identification - Book

The key identifying point is the '1941' on the title page, and no additional printings stated on the copyright page.

First Edition Identification - DJ

The key identifying point is the '$1.75' price on the front DJ flap.

Book Condition

The book being auctioned by PBA Galleries is in fine condition, in a very good dust jacket. The binding is tight, with sharp corners. Pages only slightly off-white.

Dust Jacket Condition

The dust jacket on the book being auctioned by PBA Galleries is in a very good condition, with several small tears and some light soiling.

There are two small tears on the front DJ. The first, about a 1" long diagonal in the top right corner, and the 2nd, also about 1" long on the bottom left corner.

The back dust jacket has a 1 1/2" tear in the bottom left corner and another tear at the bottom along the spine, with a small amount of paper loss.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

First Edition Identification Points

The Happy Lion Roars; illustrated by Roger Duvoisin, written by Louise Fatio; Whittlesly House, 1957.

Childrens Picturebook Price Guide: $160 Very Good+

The Happy Lion Roars is the third of the Happy Lion books, and the sixth of eighteen books Roger Duvoisin and his wife, Louise Fatio, worked on together.

The Happy Lion books:

First Edition Identification Points

The copyright page does not state any subsequent printings.

From First Editions: A Guide To Identification, 2^nd ed; Zempel & Verkler:

Whittlesly House, 1947 statement:

“The first printing of the first edition of Whittlesey House books has no indication of edition or printing anywhere in the book. The first edition may be identified only in a negative manner. Subsequent printings have ‘second printing,’ and subsequent editions ‘second edition,’ etc… on the verso of the title page under the copyright statement.”

The price on the dust jacket front flap is $2.00, followed by a synopsis for The Happy Lion Roars. The rear flap has “And don’t forget the Happy Lion’s other exciting adventures,” followed by short synopsis.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Edition Identification Points

A Doll For Marie; illustrated by Roger Duvoisin, written by Louise Fatio; Whittlesly House, 1957.

Childrens Picturebook Price Guide: $180 Very Good+ (with the supplemental doll book)

A Doll For Marie is an interesting collector piece because of the identical miniature copy of the book inserted in a back pocket (see photo). It is somewhat difficult to find with the miniature book in tact.

From the front flap:

Here is a most unusual picture story – actually two books, a book for a little girl and a book for her doll.

Both books tell the warm, touching story of a beautiful antique doll who had no home except a dusty […]

Once again Louise Fatio and Roger Duvoisin have combined their talents, this time to produce a story which every little girl will love. And in addition they have included the very same book in a miniature size which is just right for a little girl’s favorite doll to own.

A Doll For Marie is the fifth of eighteen books Roger Duvoisin and his wife, Louise Fatio, worked on together. The teams is best known for their Happy Lion books

First Edition Identification Points

The copyright page does not state any subsequent printings.

From First Editions: A Guide To Identification, 2^nd ed; Zempel & Verkler:

Whittlesly House, 1947 statement:

“The first printing of the first edition of Whittlesey House books has no indication of edition or printing anywhere in the book. The first edition may be identified only in a negative manner. Subsequent printings have ‘second printing,’ and subsequent editions ‘second edition,’ etc… on the verso of the title page under the copyright statement.”

The price on the dust jacket front flap is $2.50, followed by a synopsis for A Doll For Marie. The rear flap has “Everybody loves the Happy Lion books,” followed by three one-paragraph reviews.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Edition Identification Points

Petunia’s Christmas; written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; Borzoi/Knopf, 1952.

Childrens Picturebook Price Guide: $240 Very Good+ (updated)

Continuing our Duvoisin theme (see Petunia), Petunia’s Christmas is the third of the Petunia books written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. The Petunia books:

First Edition Identification Points

The copyright page states ‘F I R S T  E D I T I O N.’ The front cover of the book is pale yellow cloth with four lightly embossed pictures of Petunia.

The first edition dust jacket has “C L O T H   B O U N D   $2.00 net” in the top right hand corner of the front flap, followed by a synopsis of Petunia’s Christmas, followed “00408” on the right. The rear flap includes a synopsis for Petunia, followed by a synopsis for Petunia and the Song.

 

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Edition Identification Points

Petunia; written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; Borzoi/Knopf, 1950.

Childrens Picturebook Price Guide: $320 Very Good+ (updated)

Roger Duvoisin illustrated over one hundred books in a career spanning five decades. Scribner published Duvoisin’s first book in 1932, A Little Boy Was Drawing (Scribner, 1932; $280 VG+). This unedited first effort made little commercial impact. Duvoisin’s second book, Donkey-Donkey, The Troubles Of A Silly Little Donkey (Whitman, 1933; $600 VG+), was commercially successful, staying in print for decades, with over a million copies sold.

In 1948, Duvoisin won a Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in White Snow, Bright Snow (Lothrop, 1947; $480 VG+), written by Alvin Tressalt. Duvoisin won two Caldecott Honor awards; the first in 1946 for Bhimsa, The Dancing Bear (Scribner, 1945; $220 VG+); the second in 1966 for Hide And Seek Fog (Lothrop, 1965; $160 VG+), again written by Tressalt.

Duvoisin is probably best known for several franchise characters he illustrated and/or created, such as The Happy Lion, Veronica, the hippopotamus, and Petunia, the goose. Duvoisin collaborated on nine Happy Lion books with his wife, Louise Fatio. Each of the franchise books would have increased collectibility since they are considered part of a series. The first book in the series would be most desirable.

First Edition Identification Points

The copyright page states ‘F I R S T  E D I T I O N.’ The front cover of the book has a picture of Petunia, which matches the front dust jacket.

The Parent’s Magazine edition also states ‘F I R S T  E D I T I O N,’ however the boards are orange cloth and have the Parent’s Magazine emblem in the center of the back board.

The first edition dust jacket has “$1.50” in the top right hand corner of the front flap, followed by a synopsis of Petunia, with “00408” on the bottom right. The rear flap includes a synopsis for The Christmas Whale.

The Parent’s Magazine dust jacket does not have a price. The Parent’s Magazine issue includes the book club’s emblem on the back of the dust jacket.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Identifying Contemporary First Edition Books

Book collectors and booksellers are meticulous in their meaning of “First Edition.” In the book collecting industry, “First Edition” is always meant to be the first printing of the first edition of the book. 

It is very important for the novice book collector or bookseller to understand that the meaning and use of the term “First Edition” is different in the publishing industry than in the book collecting industry. Many publishers use the term ‘First Edition’ on the copyright page to indicate a book that has been reprinted without changes from its first printing. It is not uncommon for printers to employ the words “First Edition” on the copyright page on books even up to the eighth and ninth printing.

This use of the words “First Edition” on later printings of books has caused numerous headaches in recent years for book collectors, as more novice and amateur booksellers offer books for sale on the internet. A large number of novice or casual sellers do not distinguish the difference between the collecting definition of “First Edition,” and the printing industry’s use of the term. This is especially prevalent on eBay auctions, and the prudent potential book buyer should make an inquiry to the seller to obtain exact copyright page information.

Identifying Contemporary First Edition Picturebooks

In general, on most contemporary first editions published after 1970, the copyright page will have the words “First Edition,” “First Printing,” or “First Impression,” in conjunction with a numbering or lettering (less common) systems. It is important to understand that a book with “First Edition” or “First Printing” on the copyright page does not mean the book is a first edition in the collectible sense. Rather, the correct “number line” sequence is of vital importance.

Click here for first edition identification points on some specific publishers.

For the reader to become proficient at identifying first editions, the following are acceptable authoritative guides:

• Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions; edited by William M. McBride.
• First Editions: A Guide to Identification; edited by: E. N. Zempel and Linda A. Verkler.
• First Editions: A Field Guide for Collectors of English & American Literature; A. K. Ward.

Each of these guides will provide solid reference to identifying first edition markings for different publishing houses. These books do not provide first edition ‘identification points’ for specific collectible children’s books.

First Edition Identification Points for Key Children's Books

The Children's Picturebook Price Guide includes a list of first edition identifying points for individual Caldecott Medal books, Dr. Seuss books, and several other key books, including Madeline, The Little Engine That Could, and Millions of Cats.

At the First Edition Blog link, we have started a category for listing detailed first edition identification points for key children's books. We are posting photographs of key points, since the visual is much easier to recall. The index is at First Edition Identification Points for Key Books.

For the beginning children's book collector a good place to start is collecting recent Caldecott Medal books. The Caldecott Medal winning books tend to stay in print for decades, with a large collector base, therefore the first edition copies usually appreciate over time as the supply of books are absorbed by collectors. The recent Caldecott Medal books can often be found in used books stores or Friends of the Library sales for modest amounts. Click on each title for first edition points: 

• 1994 - Grandfather's Journey
  
• 1995 - Smoky Nights
  
• 1996 - Officer Buckle and Gloria
  
• 1997 - Golem
• 1998 - Rapunzel
• 1999 - Snowflake Bentley
• 2000 - Joseph Had A Little Overcoat
• 2001 - So You Want To Be President?
• 2002 - The Three Pigs
• 2003 - My Friend Rabbit
• 2004 - The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers
• 2005 - Kitten's First Full Moon
• 2006 - Hello Goodbye Window
• 2007 - Flotsam

We have also documented first edition points for other children's books. A small sample of the books:

First edition Dr. Seuss books sell for a premium in the collectible book market, however are notoriously difficult to identify. In most cases, the dust jacket is necessary to properly identify a Dr. Seuss first edition book. A first edition Dr. Seuss book with dust jacket can sell for $1000's, while the book without the jacket will sell for less then $10.

Linda and Stan Zielinski, authors of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide, are "serious collectors having fun with fun books."

Links Are Our Friends

The information offered on the website and blog is offered free of charge. If you find the information useful, then kindly link or share the post with a parent, teacher, librarian, bookseller, or collector. Thank You.

Posted by Stan Zielinski at 07:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Little Engine That Could; written by [Watty Piper, pseud.]; Illustrated by Lois Lenski; Platt & Munk, 1930.

Children’s Picturebook Price Guide Value – $920 VG+

Background

The Little Engine That Could has been widely popular since it's original publication in the 1930's, and is famous for bringing the refrain "I think I can! I think I can!" into the public's conscious. From the current publisher's website:

"The Little Engine That Could is a classic symbol of inspiration to children and adults everywhere. The words "I think I can" are as carved into our collective memory as "I have a dream," and "One small step for man". The Little Blue Engine's mantra pops up regularly in films, television, and conversation.

It was in 1930 that Platt & Munk, now owned by Penguin Putnam Inc., first published the story of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. The Little Engine puffed and chugged her way over the mountain and into the hearts of millions of children. With her courageous refrain, I Think I Can, I Think I Can, the little blue engine is part of American folklore, symbolizing the rewards of determination and good will. Currently available in twenty-two different formats, the story of the brave little engine is accessible to readers of all ages."

The Unresolved Authorship Controversy

The book accounted for a large portion of Platt & Munk's revenue during the 1930's and 1940's, however the origin of the story is very cloudy. 'Watty Piper' is not a real person, but instead a house name used by Platt & Munk beginning in the 1920's. In 1955, Platt & Munk offered a reward to anyone who could offer proof of authorship. Surprisingly, the prize was divided by three parties claiming authorship!

From John Tebbel's A History of Publishing in the United States (Vol. 4. The Great Change, 1940-1980. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1981, p. 476.):

Another firm with a single title successful enough to carry it for awhile, even if no other help had been available, was Platt & Munk, with its The Little Engine that Could, a story whose origins became a matter of dispute in 1955. Although the house had copyrighted its version of the tale in 1930 and published it under the house pseudonym of Watty Piper, subsequently selling more than 1 million copies, the claim was made that the story was first written and published by Mrs. Frances M. Ford, of Drexel, Pennsylvania, who was 102 years old in 1956.

First titled "The Little Switch Engine," it was said, the story first appeared in a newsletter of the After School Club of America on April 18, 1912. Platt & Munk offered a $1,000 award to anyone who could offer proof of authorship, discounting the Ford claim, but the results were indecisive, although the award was split among three people. It was determined only that the basic story had been told and retold under different titles, that it had appeared in print before 1911, and many have originated in Europe before the turn of the century.

So, in The Little Engine That Could, we have a book which has sold millions of copies, with over twenty variations currently in print, been the prime cause for entering a refrain into the public's conscious, and yet whose authorship is still questioned today. For more on the mystery surrounding The Little Engine That Could see Dr. Roy Plotnick's webpage In Search Of Watty Piper.

Platt & Munk and the Never Grow Old Series

In the late 1920's, Platt & Munk published the Never Grow Old Series of children's books. The books were published in boxed editions, with paste-down images on the front cover, issued without dust jackets, and have a black cloth spine. They are similar in format to the popular Volland children's books published during the 1920's, best known for the Johnny Gruelle Raggady Ann and Raggady Andy books. There were originally six titles in the Never Grow Old Series:

• Little Black Sambo
• The Tale Of Peter Rabbit
• The Little Red Hen and the Grain of Wheat
• The Cock, the Mouse, and the Little Red Hen
• The Three Little Pigs
• The Gingerbread Boy

In 1929 and 1930, Platt & Munk added three titles to the Never Grow Old Series:

• Pelle's New Suit
• The First Circus
• The Little Engine That Could

This boxed edition of The Little Engine That Could was