London; Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1924. First Edition, First Impression.
Octavo. A finely bound first edition, first impression of When We Were Very Young, the earliest of Milne’s four Christopher Robin books and the volume that first introduced Winnie-the-Pooh (appearing anonymously in the poem Teddy Bear). Bound in full dark blue morocco, with an exquisite gilt onlay to the upper cover depicting three children at play, gilt cornerpieces, and double fillet borders. The spine is richly gilt in compartments with floral motifs and ruled bands, with the date gilt at the foot. Complete with hand-sewn silk headbands, striking hand-marbled endpapers, and all edges gilt. A beautiful copy, both finely preserved and luxuriously presented.
First published in November 1924 in an initial print run of only 5,175 copies, which sold out almost immediately, the book quickly established Milne and Shepard as the leading voices in modern children’s literature. By Christmas of that year, the demand had reached unprecedented levels, ensuring multiple reprints. Copies of the first impression are now increasingly scarce, and copies in fine bindings such as this remain particularly desirable.
When We Were Very Young marked the genesis of one of the most beloved literary creations of the twentieth century. It established Christopher Robin as a central figure and laid the groundwork for Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and its sequels, whose enduring popularity has extended far beyond the printed page to become a global cultural phenomenon.
