KIPLING, Rudyard (author). Niroot PUTTAPIPAT (illustrator). Just So Stories For Little Children. London The Folio Society 2012 Signed

Folio, 330 x 245mm, publisher’s fine hand-bound cream vellum-backed tan boards extravagantly blocked with an all-over design in 22-carat gold and metallic colours of copper and silver, accented with black and white, depicting a leopard crouching in a tree, all within a decorative gilt border of trailing leaves and animal heads, spine boldly and decoratively hand-lettered by Stephen Raw, tiny vellum corners, double-page tan pictorial endpapers, presented in the original sturdy black-flecked dark brown wide-weave cloth-covered solander box with onlaid label to spine, again hand-lettered by Raw in gilt; [vi], 7-195 + [ii], on Cordier Wove paper; pictorial title-page, large pictorial plate mounted-at-large with trailing-leaf border as frontispiece, an 13 additional full-size coloured plates after watercolour paintings by Puttapipat, all similarly displayed, with border designs and details throughout printed in chestnut and pictorial vignettes in black, together with a large original etching bound at the front, hand-printed on Zerkall mould-made paper by Bacon & Bacon, Allendale, Northumberland, signed and numbered by the artist (914) to the lower margin, and surrounded by a pretty border design in brown and gilt; a fine and exceptional copy, in a fine slipcase, the book retaining the original publisher’s tissue; a stunning production.

First edition illustrated thus, published in a limited edition of only 1,000 numbered copies, with an additional 30 numbered in Roman numerals issued hors commerce: described by the publisher’s as “the definitive collector’s edition”.  

Kipling’s creation tales “Just So”, explaining How the Camel Got His Hump; How the Whale Got His Throat; How the Leopard Got His Spots and ten other whimsical stories, remain classics for all generations.

The artist Niroot Puttapipat, grandson of a Lanna princess, grew up in Thailand but is now based in London. He is revered for his delicate and impassioned artwork, blending traditional texts with soulful Eastern aesthetics.

Large book, additional postage charges may apply.