{"product_id":"the-new-rupert-book-alfred-bestall-1st-edition","title":"The New Rupert Book, Alfred Bestall — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Daily Express Publications, 1946\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 4to, pp. 120.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoin Rupert Bear and his friends on a series of magical and mischievous adventures in \u003ci\u003eThe New Rupert Book\u003c\/i\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54565539905875,"sku":"5019","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260809_185013.jpg?v=1786515655","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-new-rupert-book-alfred-bestall-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}