Tim and Lucy go to Sea

Oxford University Press. London: Oxford University Press, [1938] Folio., highly decorative publisher's boards featuring a ship and the duo aboard, looking out to sea; together in the rare repeat dust wrapper; printed throughout with 36 charming lithographic illustrations in full watercolour, including to title page; [unpaginated]; on bifold leaves, printed on versos only; a wonderful example, one small crease to paper of upper board, slightly splayed at outer edge; with some mild rubbing to the extremities and the odd darker mark; internally very fresh, a touch offset with some mild dirtying to the gutters of endleaves; the jacket, seldom found at all, is here a little marked and rubbed, with a couple of small closed tears and one or two internal spots to verso; both flaps price clipped.  First UK edition. Ardizzone's third book for children. The author and artist initially published his titles in this pleasing large format - later stories saw a reduction in size, for practical purposes. However these earlier examples show the colour illustrations all the more in their full glory.  Edward Ardizzone was a British Painter and War Artist who, during the course of his career, wrote and illustrated countless books for children. His first three, Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain, Lucy Brown and Mr Grimes and this, Tim and Lucy to to Sea, were so well received that he was assigned as a full-time war artist. First serving with the British Expeditionary Force, he later spent his nights sketching the London Underground, where tube tunnels were being used as air raid shelters. He travelled to Cairo, Sicily and Algiers, painting all the while, and had produced almost 400 sketches and watercolours by the time the war ended in 1945.  The present title sees Tim, along with his friend Lucy and her guardian Mr Grimes, travel out to sea in the beautiful Yacht Evangeline. But things do not altogether go to plan, as they fall into the hands of villainous mutineers.  A beautiful children's book.  . Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. 1938.