When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne, First edition, first impression, 1924

  
Published by Methuen & Co. First state with no xi to the contents page. Condition: Good-/Fine Bound in original blue cloth boards with gilt title to the spine and detailing to the front. The front board is very smart and clean, but there is, unfortunately, a lot of staining to the rear board, and some bumping to the edges and wear to the spine.

That said, given the rarity of this book the binding remains in reasonable condition. Inside, the pages are clean and bright with just some toning and age spotting, and the occasional small mark. The last three pages that have a small stain on the top edge. This is the first state of this first edition, the rarest and hardest to find, with no xi to the contents page.

There is an ownership inscription to the ffep and a booksellers label to the bottom corner of the pastedown. There are some slight coloured pencil marks to the page rims, visible when the book is closed, but these are very slight and the only pencil marks to the book. The hinge is cracking at the rear of the book, but the book remains in tact, and this is quite common in children's books this age that have been loved.

In all, in spite of these points, the book really is rather lovely, and is beautifully illustrated by E. Shepard, with all illustrations unmarked and complete. The book is housed in a beautiful facsimile dust jacket, which is in perfect condition and leaves the book looking particularly smart, so it would complement any collection it sat in. In all, this is a lovely, if slightly fragile, example of this first edition of the first book in Milne's much loved children's tetralogy, and the hardest of all to find - particularly in the first state without the numbering to the contents page. This would be a lovely addition to any collection, particularly given the rarity of it. It would also make an original and thoughtful gift for anyone who has grown up loving discovering the adventures of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. This item is in the category "Books, Comics & Magazines\Antiquarian & Collectable". The seller is "everlastingeditions" and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Non-Fiction Subject: Children's & Young Adults
2. Personalised: Yes
3. Year Printed: 1924
4. Modified Item: Yes
5. Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
6. Fiction Subject: Poetry, Theatre & Scripts
7. Binding: Hardback
8. Original/Reproduction: Original
9. Region: Europe
10. Weight: 550g
11. Illustrator: E. Milne
12. Original/Facsimile: Original
13. Modification Description: Gift inscription to ffep.

14. Character Family: Winnie the Pooh
15. Signed: No
16. Publisher: Methuen & Co.
17. Place of Publication: London
18. Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Dust Jacket, Illustrated