Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964. First Edition. First issue with a 6-line colophon. Preceding the London edition. 8vo, pp. 162. Illustrations by Joseph Schindelman. A couple spots of light marginal soiling, else near fine in a near fine, unclipped first state jacket with some toning but no restoration, chips, or tears. Item #1346
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has become one of the most beloved children's books of the 20th century, spawning two major film adaptations (1971 and 2005), a stage musical, and countless editions worldwide. The first American edition, with Schindelman's distinctive illustrations, preceded the British edition and is the true first. The first issue is identified by the 6-line colophon on the copyright page; later issues expanded this to 8 lines. The unclipped dust jacket in first state is exceptionally desirable, as most copies saw heavy use by young readers and the jackets were typically damaged or discarded. Dahl's darkly comic morality tale, featuring the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka and the Golden Ticket competition, has maintained continuous popularity for six decades, making fine first editions increasingly difficult to obtain.
Price: $4,250.00