Very Hard-To-Find “Goodnight Moon” with Scarce Original Dust Jacket.  Written by Margaret Wise Brown.  First Edition, Most Probably 2^ndPrinting.  Published by Harper & Brothers – c. Early 1950’s.

The difficulty in identifying first and early issues of this immensely popular Children’s Book is that the Dust Jacket is so rare that there is limited information on the unique formatting points differentiating the issues.  From my research, there appears to have been only 3 printings of this book between 1947, when it was first published, and early 1960’s when Harper & Brothers became Harper & Row (1962).  

This copy being offered is identical to the First Issue Dust Jacket (based on the only example currently available) in all the issue points except two:

• $2.00 Printed Price on Front Flap (original price $1.75) so this is a very early printing dating shortly after the first – c. early 1950’s - since it’s the next step up in Harper pricing (i.e. only a 25¢ increment).
• Residue on Dust Jacket from Harper Blue Ribbon Sticker (no sticker on First Issue).

The Book itself looks identical to that of the First Issue so it may, in fact, be such, housed in a Second Issue Jacket as there are no other know points to differential the two issues.

• "Harper & Brothers, Established 1817" on the Front Cover is off-set to the left
• "Copyright, 1947, by Harper & Brothers.  Printed in the U.S.A." is on one line on the Title Page

It is significantly different from the Harper & Row publication (c. 1960’s), not only in the publisher’s name, but Harper & Row’s Dust Jacket price of $2.95 along with other various differences in the formatting of the coding and Publisher information on both the Dust Jackets, Front Book Covers and Title Pages.

The Book is in very good condition.  Text is clean and pages without tears or markings.  There are several pages which have a minor vertical line of wrinkling in the center apparently due to a malfunction in printing given the repetition of the error.  Not really that noticeable.

Front Board views beautifully – bright and crisp in coloring.  There is, however, foxing along the top of the Page tips and Boards, most noticeable on the back given the white coloring.  Binding is tight.
  
The White Back Board also show some minor soiling in addition to the foxing mentioned at the top.  Minor corner and edge wear.
 
The scarce Dust Jacket which views very nicely from the front.  It is in rather fragile condition, however, with tears and chipping – most significant along the Spine and Back Flap Fold. There is a long tear along the back which has been repaired with tape. As mentioned, there is residue from the Harper & Brothers sticker and age browning along the back.
  
The Dust Jacket is currently housed in mylar to try to protect it from any further damage and the Book will be fully insured for shipping.  This rare Book will be fully insured.

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