Minnie – Annette Macarthur-Onslow – 1980 Hardback Third Impression – Illustrated Australian Cat Book – Vintage Prize Copy

Item Description

Step into the enchanting Australian bush with Minnie, the story of a striking white cat, written and illustrated by Annette Macarthur-Onslow. This beautifully illustrated children’s book captures the adventures of Minnie as she roams Loquat Valley, brought to life with Macarthur-Onslow’s naturalist art style, blending felines, wildlife, and lush scenery.

This copy is the 1980 hardback third impression, published by Ure Smith, Sydney, following the scarce 1971 first edition. While not the very first printing, early hardback impressions remain far more collectible and enduring than later paperback issues.

Adding to its charm, this copy features a vintage Book Week prize bookplate on the title page. Though pre-printed with the year “1968,” these labels were often reused by schools well into the 1970s and 1980s. The handwritten dedication to a Year 5 student (“Melanie Gamble”) gives the book a lovely touch of provenance and character.

Features

• Title: Minnie

• Author/Illustrator: Annette Macarthur-Onslow

• Publisher: Ure Smith, Sydney

• Publication Year: 1980 (Third Impression Hardback)

• Originally Published: 1971 (First Edition)

• Format: Hardback, large format with illustrated boards

• Dimensions: 27 × 21 cm

• Weight: 588 g

• Pages: Richly illustrated throughout with full-colour naturalist drawings of cats, woodland animals, and plants

• ISBN: 0 7018 1343 1

• Condition:

• Boards clean and bright with some light rubbing to edges.

• Spine intact, mild shelf wear only.

• Pages remain clean and bright; illustrations strong and unfaded.

• Neat vintage prize bookplate affixed to title page.

• Binding sound, no loose pages.

• Overall: Good+ vintage condition.

Collectability

• Early hardback printing (1980 third impression) of a beloved Australian illustrated classic.

• Annette Macarthur-Onslow is highly regarded for her naturalist artwork, making this book appealing to collectors of Australian children’s literature, cat-themed books, and botanical-style illustration.

• Unique vintage school prize bookplate adds charm and provenance.

📦 Shipping Weight: 588 g (approx. 850 g when packaged securely in protective wrap and a sturdy mailing box).

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