The Wind in the Willows by GRAHAME, Kenneth (1859-1932), [SHEPARD, Ernest H., illustrator]

London: Methuen Children's Books, 1971. [Children's Illustrated] SIGNED LIMITED FIRST SHEPARD COLOUR EDITION. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[4] 262 [2]. Heavily illustrated with Shepard's drawings, produced in colour for the first time. Number 231 of 250 copies thus, SIGNED by the illustrator in black ink to limitation page. Finely bound in green full morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and blind decoration to spine, and a gilt illustration stamped to upper. All edges gilt; colour maps to endpapers. With the original light green paper-covered slipcase, titled in gilt to spine with illustrations in black. Spine toned as usual, but still very green, with a few light rub marks. One patch of abrasion to the lower right of the upper panel of the slipcase, otherwise a crisp, carefully kept near fine copy. A social drama for children, peopled by animals, and overseen by the Great God Pan (who is apparently not dead). First published in 1908, the definitive version illustrated by Shepard first appeared in 1931, and is reprised here in colour for the very first time.