First printing of this charming ABC, in which every letter stands for a different location around the world – written on the eve of WWII.
Very good plus in poor dust jacket.
Price: $35.00
"It was the spring of the year 1935 and the whole world seemed to have gone completely and absolutely crazy," van Loon writes in his introduction to AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE ALPHABET, addressing his grandson. He recounts a memory of the family reading newspapers one morning containing "the latest Hitler enormities, the latest Mussolini absurdities, murder in Ireland," and a litany of other horrors, only to be brought out of their gloom by his grandson's laugh. van Loon identifies this as the impetus for beginning this book, which he knew the boy would not yet be old enough to appreciate. "Not to be read until Christmas 1943," van Loon captioned his introduction; little did he know WWII would roar to life in the intervening years.
First edition. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc, (1935). 6.25'' x 9.5''. Original color pictorial boards. Original unclipped ($1.00) color pictorial dust jacket. Illustrated in color. [64] pages. Jacket with substantial chipping and loss, rear panel largely perished; careful tape repairs to verso of spine. Binding with light edgewear, a bit of toning to spine. Interior clean and bright.
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