Lot 7: BANNERMAN, HELEN

The Story of Little Black Sambo (The Dumpy Books for Children, no. 4). London: Grant Richards, 1899

16mo (4 7/8 x 2 7/8; 125 x 73 mm). 27 colored illustrations; minor marginal foxing, a few text leaves splitting after page 36 but gutta percha mainly intact. Publisher's striped green cloth. Green cloth folding case.

LITERATURE AND REFERENCES

Osborne I:324 (4th ed.)
CATALOGUE NOTE

First edition, a handsomely preserved copy. Written and illustrated by Helen Bannerman to amuse her two daughters, the tale is based on her experiences in India. In spite of Bannerman's racially insensitive choice of names for her characters, the story of the clever Indian boy outwitting the vain, threatening tigers is told with great rhythm and excitement that continues to thrill generations of children. The color printing was executed by Edmund Evans who pioneered work in this field as early as the 1860s.