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Ludwig BEMELMANSHansi New York: Viking Press 1934 $15,000

Bemelman’s First Book, Inscribed to the Subject!

First edition. Tall quarto. [64]pp. Illustrated in color and black and white. Quarter cloth and illustrated paper over boards. Very minor edgewear and toning at the extremities, tiny tear at the crown, else near fine, lacking the uncommon dustwrapper. One of 5000 copies printed.

A spectacular association copy, Inscribed twice by Bemelmans; on the front fly: “To Hansi and his Momma with best wishes for Christmas. Ludwig Bemelmans”; and on the verso of the endpaper, “Hansi Breu is the boy who posed for this book’s Hansi. Dec. ’34 Ludwig Bemelmans”. Also laid in is a letter from Hammer Galleries in 1974 to Mr. John Breu (“Hansi”?) enclosing a brochure of art being offered by the Gallery of Bemelmans’ art.

In the early 1930s Bemelmans met May Massee, the children’s book

editor at Viking Press, who became a sort of partner. He began to publish children’s books, beginning with Hansi, his first book, in 1934. It is an amalgam of fancy and fact informed by his childhood growing up in Austria. “An enchanting picture story book about a small boy who goes from Innsbruch up to the high mountains of the Tyrol for his Christmas holidays, and of his adventures there with his uncle and aunt and small cousin and the dachshund who went for a ski ride. The pictures give the impression of hand-crayoned drawings, such as a clever child would make, but in their very simplicity lies a subtle charm and skill. One of the nicest books of the year.” Kirkus Review, 1934.

As good as it gets: presumably the best possible copy of Bemelmans’ first book. [BTC#397378]