Roland the Minstrel Pig.
New York: "Published by Windmill Books, Inc/Distributed by Harper & Row" (1968), price clipped, so cannot be identified as a first, but clearly early: no ISBN, code 0468, and 1969 inscription; blue-green cloth, ochre endpapers, in jacket with Roland onstage on front and a little portrait on a white background on back, rear flap mentions this is his "first book for children"; 9.25x12.25"; 32 pp. Picture Book Hardback.
Steig's first book for children appeals directly to them with a grand plot. Roland ventures out from his safe and loving community of animals with his lute and finds loneliness, fear, and eventual happiness playing for the King.
CONDITION: Near Fine in Very Good jacket; no marks, tight, clean, tiniest of rubs through colour to tips, 1969 Christmas gift inscription; in bright, clean clipped jacket with minimal flaws for such a large book: 1/16" chips to corners, slightly larger ones to spine ends, 1/2" closed tear on back. Item #20294
Price: $80.00