The Adventures of Rupert, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition

£300.00

The Adventures of Rupert, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition

Name: The Adventures of Rupert, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4742
Price: 300.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Daily Express Publication, 1939

Formatting: 4to, pp. 125.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original cloth-backed pictorial paper boards remain firm and structurally sound, showing expected but moderate edge wear, gentle rubbing to the perimeters, and minor corner bumping commensurate with a children's book of this vintage. The pink cloth spine has gently faded, displaying minor rubbing at the head and tail, yet the binding remains remarkably tight with no starting hinges. Internally, the text block is exceptionally well-preserved; while the endpapers exhibit scattered foxing, the primary leaves are bright, crisp, and entirely free from the juvenile hand-colouring, heavy handling marks, or detached pages that typically plague these pre-war annuals.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition of the fourth Daily Express Rupert Annual, featuring the beloved anthropomorphic bear. Authored and illustrated by Alfred Bestall, who took the artistic reins from Mary Tourtel in 1935, this annual represents a cornerstone of British children’s literature.

The volume is fully illustrated throughout in striking black and red ink, containing classic stories such as 'Rupert's Bonfire' and 'Rupert's Adventures in the Snows'. The book retains a charming piece of provenance: a neat, contemporary ink inscription to the front paste-down's "This BOOK belongs to" box, reading "Muriel P. Gilbert... November 16th 1939".

First editions of this specific pre-war annual are exceptionally scarce on the open market, particularly in uncoloured condition. The vast majority of surviving copies suffer from heavy crayon damage and structural failure, making this remarkably clean survivor a highly desirable collector's copy.

Join Rupert Bear and his friends for another season of magical escapades in The Adventures of Rupert. From soaring through the sky with a makeshift kite to braving the winter snows and encountering mystical creatures, this classic 1939 annual captures the innocent charm and imaginative wonder that has made Rupert a staple of childhood reading for generations. Beautifully rendered in Alfred Bestall’s signature two-tone illustrations, these timeless tales offer a captivating window into a golden era of British comic storytelling.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Alfred Bestall

Book Publisher: Daily Express

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Children's Poetry & Anthologies

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 125

Book Publication Year: 1939

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Alfred Bestall

Book Series: Rupert Bear Annuals

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.