Timothy in Bushland.
London: Ward, Lock & Co Ltd., 1912. First Edition, Second issue. Hardcover. 8vo. 240pp, (xvi publisher's catalog). Navy cloth illustrated in blind and gilt with gilt lettering to upper board and spine. Illustrated in b&w by J. Macfarlane with a frontispiece and seven plates.
An unusually clean copy of this early work by popular Australian children's author Mary Grant Bruce. It was based on a series of tales originally written for "The Leader" and records the adventures of Timothy, a poor child, and his conversations with the animals of the Australian bush. It includes a meeting with the mythical Australian creature, the Bunyip (who is also the subject of one of the plates). Cloth very lightly rubbed, spine a little faded, spine ends and corners lightly bumped and a bit chafed with some very light fraying to upper corner and upper spine. Two inch long quarter inch wide white stripe to middle of rear board (it almost looks like a brush stroke), contemporary school award bookplate on front pastedown, and old neat owner's name on half title. Pages lightly browned and with scattered light foxing, a few plates lose but present and could easily be retipped. Overall a solid, unmarked VG copy, actually probably one of the nicest that might be found of this scarce book. Item #40348
Price: $275.00