The New Rupert Book, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition

£45.00

The New Rupert Book, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition

Name: The New Rupert Book, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5019
Price: 45.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Daily Express Publications, 1946

Formatting: 4to, pp. 120.

Condition Report: Good. The original pictorial card wrappers remain bright and colourful, though they exhibit age-appropriate handling wear, including creasing to the corners (particularly the lower front right), and rubbing along the extremities. The most notable fault is to the spine, which has suffered heavy wear and chipping; the underlying glue has perished over time, resulting in paper loss at the head and tail that exposes the text block backing and staples. Despite this fragility at the joints, the binding remains functionally intact and secure. Internally, the pages show mild, uniform tanning typical of post-war economy paper stock, alongside scattered spotting and handling marks primarily localised to the preliminaries. The 'This Book Belongs To' box has been neatly completed in ink, and the preceding leaf bears a contemporary ink gift inscription. Overall, a complete, honest copy displaying the inevitable wear of a read and enjoyed children's annual, yet retaining strong visual appeal.

Catalogue Note: This 1946 release is a quintessential post-war edition of the beloved Rupert Bear series, featuring the masterful artwork and storytelling of Alfred Bestall. Taking over the character in 1935, Bestall's illustrative style defined Rupert for generations, and this volume boasts the classic wrap-around cover artwork format he introduced in 1941. Produced in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, annuals from this period were subject to strict economy standards in printing and paper quality, making surviving copies in any collectable condition increasingly uncommon.

The provenance of this particular copy captures its history as a cherished holiday gift. A contemporary ink inscription on the flyleaf reads, 'To wish you a Very Happy Christmas. 1946. Love from Daddy.', while the ownership box is neatly filled out to a Marion Fitchett of Ewell. Such inscriptions are highly typical of children's annuals from the era and add a touch of authentic social history to the volume. While pristine copies command a premium, examples with such honest contemporary ownership marks remain highly sought after by collectors seeking genuine, period-circulated editions.

Join Rupert Bear and his friends on a series of magical and mischievous adventures in The New Rupert Book. From a daring rescue on Coon Island and navigating the mysteries of the Blue Mountain, to testing out a rocket plane and crafting a paper bird, this classic 1946 annual is packed with imaginative tales. Featuring Alfred Bestall's iconic colour illustrations and charming rhyming couplets, it offers a nostalgic journey back to the idyllic, whimsical world of Nutwood.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Alfred Bestall

Book Publisher: Daily Express Publications

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Children's Poetry & Anthologies

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 120

Book Publication Year: 1946

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Softcover

Illustrator: Alfred Bestall

Book Series: Rupert Bear

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.