Christopher Morley — Where the Blue Begins

London [New York], William Heinemann [Doubleday], 1925 . First edition. Cloth. The first US trade edition of Christopher Morley's illustrated fantasy novel, illustrated in colour by Arthur Rackham and with the original dust wrapper. The first US trade edition, first printing of this work.In the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.Illustrated with a colour frontispiece and three further colour plates by Arthur Rackham, alongside further vignette illustrations. Collated, complete.A charmingly whimsical and satirical fantasy in which the world"s inhabitants are all anthropomorphic dogs - walking upright, speaking, socializing - all the while retaining canine instincts. The novel follows a contented bachelor living with his butler, whose life of tranquil routine is upended when he adopts three abandoned puppies, who are essentially canine children. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with unclipped dust wrapper. Light shelf wear to back strip tail, otherwise externally excellent. Former owner's label to front pastedown. Handling marks to dust wrapper, with small losses to back strip head and tail, small chips to wrap heads and tails, significant closed tear to front wrap tail, and small holes to folds over joints. Tape repairs running the length of the back strip head and tail to the reverse, with further repair to reverse of closed tear to front wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Near Fine . Ill.: Arthur Rackham. Near Fine/Good.