Janusz Grabianski Illustrated Big Book of Wild Animals 1964 First Edition Art0

Janusz Grabianski Illustrated Big Book of Wild Animals 1964 First Edition Art

£35.00
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Janusz Grabianski Illustrated Big Book of Wild Animals 1964 First Edition Art0
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Janusz Grabianski Illustrated Big Book of Wild Animals 1964 First Edition Art

Janusz Grabianski Illustrated Big Book of Wild Animals 1964 First Edition Art

£35.00
Item Overview
  • Type: Vintage Illustrated Children’s Anthology / Mid-Century First Edition Story Book
  • Designer: Janusz Grabianski (Acclaimed Polish Painter & Master Illustrator)
  • Brand: Mulberry Books / Franklin Watts, Inc.
  • Manufacturer: Carl Ueberreuter Druck und Verlag (Vienna, Austria)
  • MPN: ISBN-10: 0531020525 / ISBN-13: 9780531020524
  • Place of Origin: Vienna, Austria (US Market Distribution)
  • Style: Mid-Century Modern Children's Literature / Vintage Graphic Art
  • Colour: Cream Pictorial Canvas Boards with Vivid Ochre, Terracotta, and Inky Black Watercolour Plates
  • Design Era: Mid-Century Modern Era (c. 1964 First Printing)
  • Material: Heavyweight Pictorial Linen-Texture Hardback Cloth Boards, Premium Satin-Finish Art Paper
  • Set Includes: One (1) Single Volume Hardcover Illustrated Book (239 Pages)
  • Features: First American Edition Statement, Full-Page and In-Text Colour Watercolour Plates, Compiled Anthologies from Classic Authors (Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, Gerald Durrell)
  • Condition: Good Vintage Condition
  • Size and capacity: Large format octavo measuring approximately 9.5 inches by 7.0 inches (approx. 24 cm x 18 cm)
Dating & Historical Context
  • Dating: This fine volume states a clear copyright date of 1964, representing a well-preserved First American Edition (First Printing) copy. The inclusion of early-format Library of Congress metadata (63-7132) and the high-fidelity Austrian color-press plates are diagnostics confirming its genuine 1960s debut production lineage.
  • Historical Note: Janusz Grabianski (1929–1976) was an award-winning Polish poster artist and illustrator whose vibrant, fluid watercolour technique redefined post-war children’s publishing. His ability to capture the motion, dignity, and raw character of wildlife without overly sentimental or cartoonish distortion won him international acclaim. Compiled by Margaret Green, this anthology features gripping wilderness stories from master authors like Grey Owl and Jim Kjelgaard. Rather than relying on cheaper local printing houses, the publishers commissioned the historic Carl Ueberreuter press in Vienna, Austria, to handle the lithographic color-layering for this first printing, resulting in exceptionally rich ink distribution that remains striking to this day.
Description
An absolutely enchanting and highly visual acquisition for collectors of vintage children’s literature, mid-century design purists, or nursery curators, "The Big Book of Wild Animals" is a true masterpiece of 1960s book arts. Bound in its original decorated cream cloth boards showing a magnificent lion cub portrait, the book serves as a gorgeous showcase for Grabianski’s signature "wet-on-wet" watercolour illustrations. Every section opens into atmospheric encounters with tigers, bears, and exotic birds, rendering it a wonderful first edition gift for art-centric households.
Expert Identification & Design Features:
  • Authentic First Printing: Features the 1964 imprint marking its initial publication run, heavily sought after by academic and design collectors.
  • Masterful Watercolour Plates: Heavily punctuated with beautiful, double-page colour spreads and monochromatic sketches that dance across the text typography.
  • Premium Austrian Presswork: Printed by Carl Ueberreuter in Vienna, utilizing a heavy-gauge paper stock that beautifully preserves the delicate ink washes and textures of the original art.
Condition Report
This vintage 1964 first edition hardcover volume is in good condition, displaying an abundance of authentic handling character and nostalgic vintage appeal. The decorated cloth boards are firm and structurally sound, showing expected surface thumb-soiling, edge rubbing, and corner softening commensurate with a beloved 60-year-old family book. Inside, the binding remains secure, square, and fully intact with no loose or missing leaves. The internal pages exhibit gentle, uniform age-toning across the margins but remain remarkably clean, free from modern childhood scribbles, heavy staining, or deep rips. The brilliant color art plates remain completely bright and crisp.
Shipping & Logistics
  • Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
  • Packaging: Securely wrapped in moisture-resistant film, double-buffered with high-density card guards to prevent corner dings, and shipped inside a rigid transit box to ensure safe arrival.
  • Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
  • Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our description, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
  • Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.

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