NURSERY RHYMES

First edition, first printing. Signed by the artist. Limited edition. Quarter bound in Nigerian goatskin and hand-marbled paper by Ann Muir. Top edge gilt. Housed in a blue slipcase with a white paper title label to the upper board. Illustrated endpapers. Beautifully illustrated in colour and black and white by Paula Rego. A near fine copy, the binding square and tight, the board corners a touch rubbed. With the small booklabel of Joe Whitlock-Blundell, former production director of the Folio Society, to the foot of the half title, the contents are otherwise clean and bright throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the lightly rubbed slipcase that is a little faded at the open edge. Scarce in this form. An excellent example.

Issued in a limited edition of 100 numbered, signed copies. This example is lettered 'B' of copies reserved for the publisher and contributors, and is signed by Paula Rego in pencil on the limitation page at the rear. A trade edition was also issued. A truly unique interpretation of an array of classic nursery rhymes by the British-Portuguese artist Dame Paula Rego (1935-2022), who brings an ominously dreamlike atmosphere to the familiar source material. Rego first collaborated with The Folio Society in 1992 when she was asked to provide illustrations for a new edition of J. M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan and Wendy', which resulted in a similarly dark and striking set of images.