Mary Tourtel — The Rupert Story Book

London, Sampson Low, Marston & Co LTD, [1938]. First edition. Hardback. A lovely Rupert volume by the inventor of the bear, Mary Tourtel, the first edition of this illustrated work. The first edition of this uncommon work.A charming collection of Rupert tales by Mary Tourtel, illustrated colourfully throughout in Tourtel's signature style, including with a frontispiece.Rupert Bear is a popular children's comic strip character, a cornerstone of British culture since his first appearance in 1920. He was originally created by Mary Tourtel, in order to win sales for the Daily Express from its rivals, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail.This volume includes a total of seven tales; 'Rupert's Holiday', 'A Christmas Pudding for Rupert', 'Rupert and the Old Miser', 'Rupert's Christmastide', 'Rupert and the Fairy Child', 'Rupert and the Mince Pies', and 'Rupert and the Wise Goat's Party', as well as a selection of Rupert pictures to colour and cut out. Two of the pictures provided to colour in have been coloured in by a prior owner, the pictures of rupert to cut out remain untouched. Undated, dated from Jisc from a copy held at the British Library.Collated, complete. In the original publisher's paper covered boards. Externally, generally smart. Tears to the head and tail of the front joint, resulting in the head of the spine to be lifting. Minor bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Light rubbing to the joints and extremities. A few minor marks to the boards and spine. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are very lightly age-toned and generally clean with scattered spots. Two of the pictures have been coloured in by a prior owner. Good . Ill.: Mary Tourtel. Good .