il primo libro di Susanna.
Verona, Italy: Casa Editrice A. Mondadori, 1941, 1st, nap; tan soft paper boards with Susanna and her pets reading a copy of this book, green titles and cloth spine, endpapers and pages of stiff buff card, illustrations on both sides of endpapers, bright pictures and flowers scattered through the cursive text and eight full page illustrations, impressed government or publisher seal on rear endpaper, hardback, 10.25x13.75", 26 x 35 cm.; np. Italian language hardback.
Susanna and her little white dog Ucchi and her black bird Nicola go to the zoo. The pets' reactions to each animal are such fun! Very bright, flat sophisticated lithos looking, very much like pochoir, on tan card. The artwork in the style of an early Disney or even Chloe Preston., the text reproduced from handwritten text in black ink.
The first book of a well known Italian illustrator and artist, Colette Rosselli, who went on to illustrate many books, and also, under the pseudonym Donna Letizia, to publish an etiquette advice column for many years. The primo and segundo books were originally written for her daughter. Rare in first edition, il primo libro di Susanna has been frequently reprinted in smaller formats.
CONDITION: Very Good; "to my darling Elinor, from Daddy, Palermo, Sicily, 1943", loosening a bit, boards soiled, especially on the back, scratches and a nick on the back, corner tips rubbed through, spine faded w 1/4" tear; pages uncreased and very clean, light reading wrinkles on bottom margins of some pages, 1" closed margin tear. In clear mylar. Item #21886
Price: $335.00