The Hole Book & The Slant Book & The Rocket Book (in 3 vols.)
- New York: Harper & Brothers, 1912
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1912. First editions. Near Fine. Near fine copies. Three octavo volumes: The Hole Book (8 5/8 x 7 inches; 219 x 178 mm.). 52 pp; The Slant Book (8 3/4 x 7 inches; 222 x 178 mm.). 48 pp; The Rocket Book (8 5/8 x 7 inches; 219 x 178 mm.). 48 pp. The Hole Book with ink inscription on front free endpaper dated "Sept 28 1910"; The Slant Book with ink inscription on front free endpaper dated "Dec 25-1911". Bound in publisher's quarter blue cloth over pictorial boards. Edges of the slant book with minor repairs and text with some light marginal soiling. Housed together in a quarter dark blue morocco over blue silk boards clamshell case. Spine with four raised bands paneled in gilt, three morocco labels (orange, black & light blue) lettered in gilt in compartments.
A wonderful collection of these innovated books in which the novel physical structure of the book is an integral element of the story: The Hole Book (1908), had a literal hole at the center of each page to indicate the path of a bullet; The Slant Book (1910), took the shape of a rhomboid and features a baby carriage careening down a hill; and The Rocket Book (1912), recounts how a rocket launched from the basement floor of an apartment building and it interrupts the day. The American artist and author, Peter Sheaf Hersey Newell (1862-1924) was known for his humorous and creative children’s stories and illustrations. He published in popular magazines like Harper's Weekly, Harper's Bazaar, or Scribner's Magazine, as well as in book form, like the three books here.
Grolier Children's 100: 59 (The Hole Book). Near Fine.
A wonderful collection of these innovated books in which the novel physical structure of the book is an integral element of the story: The Hole Book (1908), had a literal hole at the center of each page to indicate the path of a bullet; The Slant Book (1910), took the shape of a rhomboid and features a baby carriage careening down a hill; and The Rocket Book (1912), recounts how a rocket launched from the basement floor of an apartment building and it interrupts the day. The American artist and author, Peter Sheaf Hersey Newell (1862-1924) was known for his humorous and creative children’s stories and illustrations. He published in popular magazines like Harper's Weekly, Harper's Bazaar, or Scribner's Magazine, as well as in book form, like the three books here.
Grolier Children's 100: 59 (The Hole Book). Near Fine.