A A MILNE, 'WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG', 1924 1st edition.

PUBLISHING DETAILS:  This is a first edition of A A Milne's earliest and rarest book from his famous quartet for children of all ages.  It is the second state, with blank endpapers and with page ix numbered.  Published by Methuen of London in 1924.  100 pages with top edge gilt.  Illustrated throughout by E H Shepard.  Size; 19 x 13 cms (7.5" x 5").  Weight; 340g (12 ozs). 

CONDITION:  I would rate this as very good.  The original blue cloth covers, with gilt-embossed figures and titling, are clean and sound, with slight wear to the top and tail of the spine and slightly faded strip across the top edge (see photo).  The binding remains tight and secure throughout save for slight cracking at one internal signature.  The text and illustrations are clean, bright and free from foxing, with just the very occasional light mark.  There is a neatly penned contemporary inscription on the front free endpaper and light offsetting to the pastedowns. 

All in all a particularly attractive example of this rarity. 

THE BOOK:  "It's lovely rice pudding for dinner again!"  Milne's poetry effortlessly transports the reader into a child's mind, with its wonders, tantrums and frustration at adults who seriously think rice pudding is appealing.

Readers will remember these poems from their own childhood, and want to pass them on to the next generation. 'When We Were Very Young' also features the very first appearance in print of Winnie-the-Pooh, in a delightful verse exploring the tribulations of stoutness for a philosophical teddy bear. 

The book begins with an introduction entitled 'Just Before We Begin' which in part tells the reader to imagine for themselves who the narrator is, and that it might be Christopher Robin. 

After this book and its three companions ('Winnie-the-Pooh', 'Now We Are Six' and 'The House at Pooh Corner' - all of which I am listing), Milne refused to write any further sequels, as his source of inspiration (Christopher Robin Milne) was growing up.  So we have to make do with just these four truly wonderful books.

A RARE BOOK IS A GREAT INVESTMENT