Beautiful association copy of the limited 25th Anniversary edition, presented by Sendak to his dear friend James Marshall, with the special card containing an original signed pen-and-ink drawing of Max parading as a Wild Thing and an additional inscription to Marshall.
Fine.
Price: $11,000.00
"Marshall is the last of a long line of masters [of the picture book form] that began in the late 19th century with the pre-eminent English illustrator, Randolph Caldecott; then continued in our century with Jean de Brunhoff in France and Edward Ardizzone in England; and then via Tomi Ungerer arrived full blast in America, where the laurel wreath settled finally, splendidly, on the judicious, humane, witty and astonishingly clever head of James Marshall." – Maurice Sendak
Sendak sent this copy as a birthday gift to Marshall, best known for his George and Martha series, one year before Marshall's untimely death from AIDS-related complications at the age of 50. In 1997, Sendak wrote passionately about Marshall's place in picture book history for the NEW YORK TIMES, including their own deep connection: "If I remember with terrible pain my lost friend and colleague, it is only because James raised the art of friendship to an exhilarating height. I think myself the luckiest of men to have shared his sweet warmth and confidence. There is a small army of people who, I'm certain, feel the same way. He made me laugh until I cried. No one else could ever do that. He was a wicked angel and will be missed forever." When Sendak died, he bequeathed his own collection of Marshall's works to the University of Connecticut, which already housed Marshall's papers.
This 25th Anniversary edition contains color reproductions executed to Sendak's exacting specifications, with lush results. The limited edition is scarce, and rarely retains the card with the dated (Oct. 88) Wild Thing drawing. Given the 1988 drawing and Sendak's 1991 inscription, it's likely this was one of his retained author copies. But most of all, it is the association of this copy – speaking to the mutual respect of giants in the field, and testifying to the depth of loss experienced by the gay community during the AIDS crisis – that makes it such a powerful object.
Read more: Sendak, "James Marshall, Wicked Angel," in The New York Times, 17 November 1997.
New York: Harper & Row, (1988). 9'' x 10'' (book). Publisher's full blue leather stamped in gold. All edges gilt. In original lined cloth box with large color plate on front board. One of only 220 copies. Illustrated by Sendak in color throughout. 48 pages. Envelope laid in with 6.5'' x 5.5'' card inscribed by Sendak: "For Jim - a special picture for his birthday - Love - Maurice - Oct. 10, '91" under a pen-and-ink drawing of Max dressed as a Wild Thing, additionally signed "Maurice Sendak / Oct. 88."
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