Van Allsburg, Chris - The Garden of Abdul Gasazi - Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 1979 - 1st Edition / 1st Printing / 1st State Dust Jacket - Complete number line, starting with “1”, present on the copyright page as required in order to denote the first printing of the first edition. First state dust jacket with the correct price and no prize stickers.
“Alan started running. In front of him he could see a clearing in the forest. As he came dashing out of the woods he stopped as quickly as if he had run up against a wall. For there, in front of him, stood a true awesome sight. It was the house of Gasazi.”
The book has some very light spotting a few scattered light bumps but otherwise the boards are very straight and clean, the lettering on the spine is bright, the binding is square and firm, and internally the text block is very clean. An easily near fine copy of the book. The dust jacket has the typical sunning to the spine and edges, some light shelf wear, and a pair of rubbed spots. A wonderful example of this oversized dust jacket with no tears and no chips and is thus unusual. This copy has a large book plate signed by Chris Van Allsburg affixed to the front end page. The author’s rather uncommon first book which was a Caldecott Honor title. Soon to be the fourth major Van Allsburg title adapted for film.