Eloise - inscribed, together with Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime & Eloise in Moscow -
Kay Thompson, Hilary Knight (illustrator)
1955 - Simon and Schuster, New York - First Editions
A complete first edition set of Kay Thompson’s fabulous Eloise series brought to life by Hilary Knight’s inimitable illustrations, combining child-like wonder with warmth and comedy. Starring the magnificently precocious Eloise, who can become dangerously influential to a daughter's life.
The first book is inscribed by Hilary Knight on front free endpaper, with "ME ELOISE!!!" underneath in red ink, in another hand by Kay Thompson. A review copy with promotional material laid in (review slip, reproductions of two Eloise illustrations on slick photo paper, and a photo portrait of Kay Thompson with bio blurb).
‘I am Eloise. I am six. I live at the Plaza hotel.’
With those immortal words, we are introduced to the irreverent and hilarious young occupant of the Plaza, the quirky and ever-lovable Eloise, (rumoured to have been modelled on Kay Thompson’s young goddaughter, Liza Minnelli)...
Accompanied by her English Nanny, loyal pug, and pet turtle, Eloise enjoys spending her days riding the elevator, adding her crayon art to the walls, and avoiding homework at all costs.
Eloise then leaves her room at the Plaza and flies to Paris, with her entourage of nanny, turtle and pug plus 37 pieces of luggage...
‘Oh my Lord we are going to Paris France, to get roses in our cheeks!’
‘Pas de quoi d'accord and zut!’
Following on from Paris, Eloise is back in the third of the series, ready to create Christmastime mischief and havoc, dashing Nanny’s hopes for a quiet and calm celebration... (a super dooper copy with the ‘To’ and ‘From’ label still waiting to be filled in...)
‘Then it’s zippity jingle and dash away ping,
Hang holly and berries in all the halls,
Tie tassels on all the thermostats and Write Merry Christmas on all of the walls!’
After an eventful Christmas, and despite Nanny’s pleading, nothing can deter Eloise from her trip to Moscow! Armed with her natural charm and somewhat questionable diplomacy skills, she’s determined to put on her Ushanka, pack up her sled, and get to the Aragvi in time for tea.
An interesting glimpse into a Cold War 1959 view of Soviet Russia, including stunning fold-out panorama of ‘Ancient Kremlin Citadel’, adding colour and humour, albeit with slightly less pink than Eloise would have wished for... ‘Anyone who fears that the whole human race has been turned out on the same assembly line had better make the acquaintance of Eloise. She is the raw material of genius.’ – New York Herald Tribune Book Review.
Four thin quarto volumes (book size 28.5x20cm), pp. 65; 64; 66; 66. Eloise in publisher’s cream cloth, spine lettered in red and black, front board lettered in red, with illustration of Eloise in black; Paris in publisher’s blue cloth, spine lettered in silver and black, front board lettered in silver, with illustration of Eloise in black, dust jacket price-clipped to lower corner of front flap; Christmastime in publisher’s orange boards, spine lettered in black, front board lettered and illustrated in black, dust jacket price-clipped to upper corner of front flap; Moscow in publisher’s orange boards, spine lettered in black, front board lettered and illustrated in black, dust jacket priced $3.75 to lower corner of front flap. All with illustrated endpapers. Condition: Eloise - very good, yellowing to boards around the outer edges, lightly rubbed, stitching a little loose on some quires, near fine dust jacket, spine toned, light wear to spine ends and corners; Paris - near fine, minor sunning to edges of cloth, price-clipped dust jacket with light soiling to rear panel possibly made during the printing process; Christmastime - fine, in fine jacket if not for the small price clipping; Moscow - near fine, very small indents to top edge of rear board, in very good jacket, several closed tears, with a hint of browning to top edge and spine. Ref: 112285 Price: HK$ 40,000
The first book is inscribed by Hilary Knight on front free endpaper, with "ME ELOISE!!!" underneath in red ink, in another hand by Kay Thompson. A review copy with promotional material laid in (review slip, reproductions of two Eloise illustrations on slick photo paper, and a photo portrait of Kay Thompson with bio blurb).
‘I am Eloise. I am six. I live at the Plaza hotel.’
With those immortal words, we are introduced to the irreverent and hilarious young occupant of the Plaza, the quirky and ever-lovable Eloise, (rumoured to have been modelled on Kay Thompson’s young goddaughter, Liza Minnelli)...
Accompanied by her English Nanny, loyal pug, and pet turtle, Eloise enjoys spending her days riding the elevator, adding her crayon art to the walls, and avoiding homework at all costs.
Eloise then leaves her room at the Plaza and flies to Paris, with her entourage of nanny, turtle and pug plus 37 pieces of luggage...
‘Oh my Lord we are going to Paris France, to get roses in our cheeks!’
‘Pas de quoi d'accord and zut!’
Following on from Paris, Eloise is back in the third of the series, ready to create Christmastime mischief and havoc, dashing Nanny’s hopes for a quiet and calm celebration... (a super dooper copy with the ‘To’ and ‘From’ label still waiting to be filled in...)
‘Then it’s zippity jingle and dash away ping,
Hang holly and berries in all the halls,
Tie tassels on all the thermostats and Write Merry Christmas on all of the walls!’
After an eventful Christmas, and despite Nanny’s pleading, nothing can deter Eloise from her trip to Moscow! Armed with her natural charm and somewhat questionable diplomacy skills, she’s determined to put on her Ushanka, pack up her sled, and get to the Aragvi in time for tea.
An interesting glimpse into a Cold War 1959 view of Soviet Russia, including stunning fold-out panorama of ‘Ancient Kremlin Citadel’, adding colour and humour, albeit with slightly less pink than Eloise would have wished for... ‘Anyone who fears that the whole human race has been turned out on the same assembly line had better make the acquaintance of Eloise. She is the raw material of genius.’ – New York Herald Tribune Book Review.
Four thin quarto volumes (book size 28.5x20cm), pp. 65; 64; 66; 66. Eloise in publisher’s cream cloth, spine lettered in red and black, front board lettered in red, with illustration of Eloise in black; Paris in publisher’s blue cloth, spine lettered in silver and black, front board lettered in silver, with illustration of Eloise in black, dust jacket price-clipped to lower corner of front flap; Christmastime in publisher’s orange boards, spine lettered in black, front board lettered and illustrated in black, dust jacket price-clipped to upper corner of front flap; Moscow in publisher’s orange boards, spine lettered in black, front board lettered and illustrated in black, dust jacket priced $3.75 to lower corner of front flap. All with illustrated endpapers. Condition: Eloise - very good, yellowing to boards around the outer edges, lightly rubbed, stitching a little loose on some quires, near fine dust jacket, spine toned, light wear to spine ends and corners; Paris - near fine, minor sunning to edges of cloth, price-clipped dust jacket with light soiling to rear panel possibly made during the printing process; Christmastime - fine, in fine jacket if not for the small price clipping; Moscow - near fine, very small indents to top edge of rear board, in very good jacket, several closed tears, with a hint of browning to top edge and spine. Ref: 112285 Price: HK$ 40,000