MILNE, Alan Alexander (1882-1956). When We Were Very Young. London: Methuen & Co., 1924.

MILNE, Alan Alexander (1882-1956). When We Were Very Young. London: Methuen & Co., 1924.

4^o. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Original cloth-backed boards, paper label on front cover; printed dust jacket (some soiling, a few nicks, short tear on front cover slightly affecting title); orange quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: Leonard Amster (presentation inscription from the author, sold Sotheby's London, 25 November 1957, lot 41).

FIRST EDITION, LIMITED ISSUE, number 53 of 100 Large Paper copies signed by Milne and Shepard. PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by Milne to the literary agent, Leonard Amster, on the front free endpaper: "This book belongs to Leonard Amster who says I wrote it- so I suppose I did. A.A. Milne. Cotchford Farm, Hartfield. August 24th, 1926." The book is additionally signed by Christopher Robin with his pet name "Billy Moon" underneath the frontispiece illustration of himself. Loosely inserted is an autograph letter signed by Christopher Robin to Amster, August 28, 1926: "Dear Leonard, I Do like my pen that you gave me. I would love to come to Nue-York to see you. Love from Billy Moon." Milne has written a note on the verso thanking Amster for the pen, which Christopher Robin had forgotten to do, and informs him that "This is Moon's longest letter, so you ought to be proud." Also included is a charming photograph of Christopher Robin with Pooh in a tree inscribed by Christopher Robin: "Christopher Robin and Pooh." Having just turned six on 21 August, it is likely that the pen was a birthday gift to Christopher Robin from Amster.