The Tale of Mr. Tootleoo, Bernard Darwin & Elinor Darwin — 1st Edition

£125.00

The Tale of Mr. Tootleoo, Bernard Darwin & Elinor Darwin — 1st Edition

Name: The Tale of Mr. Tootleoo, Bernard Darwin & Elinor Darwin — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5889
Price: 125.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£125.00

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Publication: London, The Nonesuch Press, [1925]

Formatting: Oblong 4to.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original light brown paper-covered boards remain structurally sound, exhibiting mild handling wear typical of this fragile production, including gentle bumping to the corners and minor rubbing at the spine ends. The red embossed medallion to the upper board and the aquatic tooling to the spine and corners retain their bright, unoxidised colour, avoiding the fading often seen in this title. Internally, the binding is secure with intact hinges. The leaves are crisp, clean, and bright, notably free from the foxing, tears, or crayon marks commonly found in children's literature of this era.

Catalogue Note: First edition of the first Mr. Tootleoo book, an engaging piece of nonsense verse. The text was penned by Bernard Darwin (1876–1961), grandson of the naturalist Charles Darwin and a noted golf writer. The narrative is accompanied by twenty-two full-page colour lithographs by his wife, the artist and engraver Elinor Monsell.

As a delicate children's book bound in paper-covered boards, this production frequently suffers from enthusiastic child-handling. Copies surviving in this well-preserved state are uncommon on the open market, making this a desirable acquisition for collectors of interwar children's literature.

A lively piece of rhyming nonsense following the adventures of a jovial sailor, Mr. Tootleoo. Shipwrecked and found adrift sitting in his own hat, he is rescued by a family of Cockyollybirds. After encountering a whale and a helpful seagull, the lead Cockyollybird magically transforms into a beautiful lady. Mr. Tootleoo promptly proposes, leading to a charmingly happy conclusion.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Bernard Darwin & Elinor Darwin

Book Publisher: The Nonesuch Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Children's Poetry & Anthologies

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1925

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Elinor Darwin

Book Series: Mr. Tootleoo

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.