OLD POSSUM'S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS

First illustrated edition, first printing. Recent full cream morocco, with an illustration after Nicolas Bentley in black, red, yellow and green to the upper and titles in black to the spine. Top edge gilt. Illustrated in colour with additional black and white drawings by Nicholas Bentley. A fine copy, the binding square, bright and fresh. The contents, with the occasional light finger mark to the margins are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps.

A beautifully bound and illustrated edition of T. S. Eliot's Book of Practical Cats. The basis for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats, and subsequent film adaptations. The first edition was published without illustrations on 5th October 1939 in an edition of 3005 copies. This first illustrated edition was published in November the following year in an edition of 3025 copies. (Gallup A34c).