The Wind in the Willows.
London: Methuen Children's Books, 1971. 8vo. Signed, limited edition. #246 of 250 numbered copies, signed on the limitation page by Ernest H. Shepard. Publisher's full, green morocco binding (by Zaehnsdorf?) with five raised bands. Three spine compartments are lettered in gilt, the others feature blind-tooled decorations of Toad, Mole and Ratty. The three characters are in gilt on the upper board. All edges gilt. Colour endpapers by Shepard give an aerial view of the topography of the story. Illustrated throughout in colour by Ernest H. Shepard. Spine darkened (as often). Contents clean with no ownership marks. Near fine. Item #9260
Shepard's classic illustrations were originally published in 1931. This 1971 edition is the first time those illustrations were coloured by the artist. Shepard died in 1976 and this remains the only deluxe, signed, limited edition of the book. "Poop-poop"!
Price: £2,000.00