ELIOT, T.S. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

Large 4to., publisher’s blue boards with a drawing in line by Axel Scheffler imprinted in gilt to the upper cover; lettered in gilt to spine with publisher’s device to foot; decorative cat endpapers; contained in the original unclipped pictorial dustwrapper (£14.99 to front flap); pp. [viii], 64; containing numerous illustrations throughout in full colour by Scheffler; aside from a couple of tiny dinks essentially a fine copy in the like dustwrapper. 

First edition thus, with full number line 1-10. This copy neatly inscribed by the illustrator to the title page: “To Sheila & Susan! / Axel Scheffler / London 26.10.09” with an original ink doodle of a cat waving beneath. 

A wonderful illustrated edition of Eliot’s classic collection of cat poems, published by Faber in line with the 70th anniversary of the book’s original publication in 1939, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of Faber and Faber. The enigmatic drawings by Scheffler, perhaps best known for his rendition of Donaldson’s Gruffalo, include cats conducting choirs of mice, travelling on barges, dancing on rooftops and getting up to much more mischief besides. Perhaps most famously, the collection contains Eliot’s humorous poem Macavity: The Mystery Cat, concerning a thieving ginger cat who constantly evades capture by the police: 

Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw - 

For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law.

He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair: 

For when they reach the scene of crime - Macavity’s not there! 

A lovely inscribed copy. 

SKU: 1800228