{"product_id":"the-adventures-of-rupert-alfred-bestall-1st-edition","title":"The Adventures of Rupert, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"57\"\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Daily Express Publication, 1939\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"110\"\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 4to, pp. 125.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"136\"\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"848\"\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"2\"\u003eThe 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\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003eFirst 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003eJoin Rupert Bear and his friends for another season of magical escapades in \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"381\"\u003eThe Adventures of Rupert\u003c\/i\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54385791304019,"sku":"4742","price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260717_194409.jpg?v=1784813151","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-adventures-of-rupert-alfred-bestall-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}