The First Noël, Jan Pieńkowski

Name: The First Noël, Jan Pieńkowski
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6947
Price: 12.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Walker Books, 2004

Formatting: 8vo, unpaginated.

Condition Report: New. The pictorial boards remain exceptionally sharp and bright, with no discernible edge-wear or rubbing to the extremities. The binding is remarkably tight, with the spine displaying no creasing or fading. The integrated cloth ribbon ties used to form the carousel are fully intact and unfrayed. Internally, the complex paper engineering remains entirely pristine, free from tears, creases, or operational defects. An exceptional, unblemished copy of a fragile mechanical book.

Catalogue Note: A beautifully engineered modern pop-up edition of the Nativity story, distinguished by Pieńkowski’s signature silhouette artistry. The book is cleverly designed to unfold into a 360-degree, star-shaped carousel, with five intricate cut-paper tableaus accented in red, white, and gold. The delicate paper engineering, originally executed by Helen Balmer with Lois Bulow Osborne, translates the King James Bible text into a striking three-dimensional theatre.

As a modern, widely circulated publication, copies of this edition are relatively common on the open market. However, finding them in such pristine, fully operational condition with crisp boards and intact mechanics is increasingly uncommon, as the delicate nature of the cut-paper silhouettes typically invites heavy wear and mechanical failure over time.

The First Noël brings the nativity story to life through Jan Pieńkowski’s iconic, exquisite cut-paper silhouettes. This enchanting novelty book unfolds to reveal five delicate, three-dimensional scenes, beautifully rendered in festive red, white, and gold. Designed to be read as a traditional book or tied back to form a stunning freestanding Christmas carousel, it is a timeless celebration of the Angel Gabriel, the shepherds, and the three wise men.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Jan Pieńkowski

Book Publisher: Walker Books

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Children's Fiction & True Stories

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year:

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Jan Pieńkowski

Book Series: N/A

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.