a noite de natal
Lisbon, Lisboa: Editorial Atica, December, 1959, 1st edition and undoubtedly 1st and only printing, Collecçao Infantil Atica, offset lithographs by Lithographia Tejo, cardstock covers with jacket tightly folded around, showing sweeping Christmas tree boughs extending across spine to rear, with red title panel and blue ornament; coloured lithos in text or facing every page, oblong 25.5x24 mm, 10.3x9.5"; n. p. Portuguese language softcover.
A collaboration between a poet and an illustrator, both well-known Portuguese artists . The story of a little girl, blessed with a bountiful Christmas, who brings a gift to her poor friend Manuel. Beautiful, simple, flat coloured lithographs show the little girl in her happy household, then sitting on her bed and staring at her new toys, then walking through a night of black branches against a dark blue sky, accompanied by the barely glimpsed three kings, to a manger, where angels sing in the heavens and the ox and the donkey look down on sleeping Manuel. This story, first conceived as part of a Portuguese elementary literature series, has been reissued and reillustrated four times, the last in 2014, but these superb illustrations of the first edition are difficult to find although common in library collections. SIGNED by author, as were all these copies.
CONDITION: Very Good; no names or other marks, tight and very clean inside, unfortunate heavy foxing along the top side margin of the cover and elsewhere, otherwise in Near Fine condition ( spine tips rubbed, spine flat). Item #22060
Price: $165.00