Description: ***A scarce signed copy by the world famous poet of one of his famous works. Signed first editions sell for $24,000. This is a highly prized whimsically illustrated first edition, early printing by Nicolas Bentley.*** Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot Signed and inscribed by Eliot on title page. Published in 1953 by Faber and Faber in London. First illustrated edition, seventh printing, as listed on the copyright page. In original white cloth boards with full-color top cover illustration by Bentley. 51 pages. Octavo. Collated and complete. Illustrated by Nicolas Bentley with 14 full-color plates and additional within text vignettes illustrations. Condition info: VERY GOOD The book is a collection of whimsical poems from T. S. Eliot, written under the assumed name of 'Old Possum', a name Eliot used in letters to his godchildren. This anthology forms the basis of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous 1981 musical 'Cats', and contains fifteen poems, including 'The Rum Tum Tugger', 'The Song of the Jellicles', 'Old Deuteronomy', and 'Mr Mistoffelees'. First published in 1939, this work was quickly reissued in 1940 with the illustrations of Nicholas Bentley, the famed British author and illustrator best known for his humorous cartoon drawings in books and magazines in the 1930s and 1940s. Condition Info: The book is in VERY GOOD condition. Square spine, firm hinges and joints, tight pages, sharp corners. Some light rubbing to top cover and spine tips. Heavily foxed endpapers. Most of the text pages and plates are clean and bright white. Though there is some sporadic light foxing along some of the page gutters and on some of the pages. No writing or former owner bookplates. Please see pictures as they are an important part of the condition description. More pictures and info available upon request. Book will ship fully insured with signature required upon receipt for your protection. As a fellow book collector, I know how frustrating it can be when items aren’t accurately described or poorly packaged for shipping. That is why I (1) take a lot of pictures and try to describe condition issues as accurately as possible and (2) pack your book purchases with the utmost care before shipping. I have been selling and buying on eBay for over 10 years and have a 100% satisfaction rating, and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee 30-day return policy. Please follow me as I have thousands of highly collectible books to list in the coming weeks and months!
Price: 6000 USD
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
End Time: 2025-01-05T00:17:09.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: Cloth
Place of Publication: London
Signed: Yes
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Subject: Cats
Original/Facsimile: Original
Year Printed: 1953
Language: English
Illustrator: Nicolas Bentley
Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Illustrated
Author: T.S. Eliot
Topic: Classics
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
