James and the Giant Peach

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961. Dahl's first book for children, fantastically illustrated by Burkert; basis of the 1996 film. An early printing, but not the scarce first. Dating this book precisely is difficult: most copies listed are much later printings, though called 'first edition, second state' even by dealers who should know better - see note at the end of this listing. Hardcover, full red cloth, gilt titling, blind-stamped decoration, yellow top edge, green endsheets; four-line production note on the last page; first state jacket with $3.95 price on flap, no ISBN on rear panel; no mention of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which puts it between 1961-67. Light wear to book & jacket, minor edgewear, near fine. Text clean; [8], 119 pages + colophon; color & b/w illustrations. A remarkably nice example. PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: The first state of this book has a five-line production note on the last page, naming Wolff as the binder, and including paper provider Glatfelter. Dahl's bio notes no other children's books but does mention his own three children. The second state has the same bio, but has omitted Glatfelter and changed Wolff to The Book Press, which it remained for MANY YEARS, into the 1980s. In the third state, perhaps beginning around 1970, the Author's Note lists 4 other children's books by Dahl and omits other biographical info, except that he has four children. The four-line listing of production details remains unchanged. By around 1980, the bio remains the same, but the printer has changed from Rheel to Rae, and the binding, previously in red, orange, or orangy-yellow cloth is now a blue cloth spine over light blue or blue-green boards. There are at least six early jacket states: the first has a price of $3.95 on the front flap, notes Dahl's three children and that this is his first children's book on the rear flap, also noting artist Burkert's two-year-old. There in NO SBN number on the rear panel. It was in use from 1961 to about 1967. The second state, while not aging the artist's daughter, adds an SBN to the rear panel, dating it to 1968 or later. The third state still has the $3.95 price but credits four titles & four children to Dahl, and three titles to Burkert, while omitting reference to her children. A fourth state, around 1973, has the $3.95 blocked out, and $4.95 printed instead; yet-later states have printed prices of $4.95 and $5.95 while retaining the same wordage on the rear flap, and nine-digit SBN on the rear panel. By 1980, the flap price was $6.95. There are also several states of the copyright page, but suffice it to say here that if it lists the ISBNs, it was printed after 1970 and is not the 'second' printing or state but MUCH LATER. This information was gleaned from an afternoon of examining listings with sufficient photos, and should not be regarded as authoritative, but it is accurate enough to ballpark most early printings.. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. Illus. by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. 7¼" by 10¼".