When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)

London: Methuen, 1924.

(Item #4154) When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy). A. A. Milne, E. H. Shepard.

When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)

London: Methuen, 1924. First edition. First edition, an extraordinary presentation copy, inscribed by the author to his wife Daphne on the front free endpaper: "To the girl we love from her two boys. Nov 2, 1924". Her two boys are the author himself and their son Christopher Robin Milne, the dedicatee of this work, and the model for the Christopher Robin hero of the Pooh books.

Octavo. Original blue cloth, titles to spine and decorations to front cover in gilt. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Peripheral rubbing, light cockling to front pastedown, endpapers a little toned, still a near-fine, bright and clean copy.

When We Were Very Young was the first of the Pooh books, introducing the two iconic literary childhood figures of Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh. The only copy of comparable importance to this was the dedication copy, inscribed to Christopher: "Billy's own book from his loving Blue. Nov: 1924" (sold at auction in December 2002, 53,775 inclusive). Both copies were almost certainly inscribed on the same day, preceding the book's general publication by four days.

Alan and Daphne first met in January 1913 while buying ski boots - they discovered they were headed for the same slopes in Switzerland, Diablerets, and were staying at the same hotel, the Grand. After a brief courtship, they announced their engagement that same month and were married six months later.
Near Fine (Item #4154)

When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)
When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)
When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)
When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)
When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)
When We Were Very Young (Presentation Copy)