HISTORY
So much to tell about this book, well actually it is more about where it came from and of course the wonderful Australian artist and writer, Norman Lindsay. His artworks are widely known but he also delved into the world of the writer, his first novel being released around 1907 and later, his perhaps most well known Children's book The Magic Pudding just near the end of WWI in 1918
He not only wrote the story but made all of the illustrations, a fusing of his artistic and writing abilities.
This book is of course not a first or even second edition, these can be found occasionally at fine book sellers but you need deep pockets with a 2nd edition being offered recently for around A$3000
This copy I am offering is in fair condition (please read below what I mean by this), it is a hard covered copy but no cover slip (if there ever was one). It was published in 1962. The book uses a matt, "cotton like" paper with plenty of illustrations, some of which are monochromatic and other illustrations are monochromatic but with what I can only describe as "colour smearing", the colours used are just two - a Mustard Yellow and a Brown Orange. No Blues, Greens or anything in between. I think this "colouring" was added later to the original illustrations by Norman Lindsay but I could be wrong.
I have taken some snapshots of the pages to illustrate what I mean.
There is another aspect which makes this book interesting from a historical perspective, inside on the first cover page is a Red stamp with a little Green colour. This stamp indicates the book was once in a school library, namely the Caldermeade State School (School number 4271) which was located in Victoria but closed in 1983 due to the school population becoming unsustainable. Initially I thought this would have been a Queensland school with the word "State" but the only references I could find were this school in Victoria, and the school 'number' matched with that in Victoria.
So, on with the show ... let me give some details about this book
NORMAN LINDSAY - The Magic Pudding
Publisher: Angus & Robertson
First published 1918
This is the 1962 reprinted copy
Children's story created by Norman Lindsay and illustrated by himself
Many of the illustrations have either his full signature or simply N.L
Most illustrations are monochromatic
Hard cover
Measures 240mm x 158mm x 20mm
170 Pages
Special notes: I am no book expert or even collector, although our family has a passion for all things "Lindsay" ... a few things I noticed while examining this book.
Every page is numbered BUT throughout the book are some printed capital letters, of which I have no idea what the meaning may be ... these letters are printed towards the bottom of the page and to the left of the page number, near the spine. Here are the details ...
A=Title page
B=page 17
C=page 33
D=page 49
F=page 81
G=page 97
H=page 113
I=page 129
K=page 145
L=page 157
Yes, the alphabet isn't continuous (I flipped back and forth across the pages and definitely there is no E or J printed - I have no idea what these mean or why two letters are missing.
Most illustrations are signed by Norman Lindsay, some with simply N.L (with the bottom of the L being sort of 'wavy') and some with his full name.
As mentioned above, quite a few of the more detailed illustrations have what I call a "colour smearing" across them, always in just two (maybe three) colours, these being a Mustard Yellow, a Mid Brown and a Reddish Brown.
CONDITION:
USED
Fair condition overall
NO dust cover, if there ever was one.
NO serious marks or discolouration to the outer front and rear covers
Externally the spine looks to be in good condition
All of the pages are clean and with very little signs of foxing to the paper but there are the occasional marks near or on the edges of the paper on some pages.
I have carefully looked through the book page by page and all of the pages are present and accounted for!
The spine is reasonably secure (glued type).
Other than the stamp on the inside front page, there are no personal writings or drawings on any page.
Yes, there are minor signs of handling wear. To me, as a layman in such things, these are minor ... here are the details and a couple of photographs have been included to help understand what I am describing ...
Page damage observed ...
Page 29 - a short 8mm bottom edge tear
Page 43 - long 56mm bottom edge tear
Page 137 - a very short 5mm bottom edge tear
Page 143 - a short 10mm bottom edge tear
Pages 148~154 - the bottom corner of the pages near the spine, there is a little damage perhaps from water long ago, it is as though the pages once were stuck together at this point? See the photograph
Page 158 - a small mid page 5mm tear near the spine, please view the photograph
Along with some of our beloved Lindsay "artifacts', this book is now seeking a new caring home to live in and while not a First Edition, it is at least a more affordable memoir of Norman Lindsay's more famous creations other than his wonderful litho art.
I have now sealed this book within a CELLOWRAP plastic (non-reactive with paper) and then sitting on a 'bed' of stiff cardboard and once again sealed in clear plastic. Snug as a bug in a rug!
