He began his career as a technical draftsman for the U.S.

The illustrator: Paul Bransom (July 1885 – July 19, 1979) was an American painter, cartoonist, and illustrator of animals. Born in Washington, D.C., as a child Bransom started sketching animals he saw in his backyard and at the National Zoo. He moved back to Berkshire, where he had lived as a child, and spent his time by the River Thames, doing much as the animal characters in his book do – to quote, 'simply messing about in boats' – and expanding the bedtime stories he had earlier told his son Alastair into a manuscript for the book. In 1908 Grahame retired from his position as secretary of the Bank of England. They live in a pastoral version of Edwardian England. Alternatingly slow-moving and fast-paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphized animals: Mole, Rat (a European water vole), Toad, and Badger. The book Rare First UK illustrated Bransom edition of The Wind in the Willows - a children's book by Scottish novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908.

Illustrations: Complete with the wonderful 12 full-page color illustrations by Paul Bransom. Upper edge gilt.Ĭontent: Very good content (bright, clean, and tight - as shown, rare light foxing - as shown, outer upper corner of some page very lightly creased - as shown, gift note of a previous 1917 owner on the half-title page - as shown). First UK Edition illustrated by Paul Bransom.īinding: Attractive and very good full cloth binding (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.

Wind in the willows first edition