The Cunning Little Vixen. Translated by Tatiana Firkusny, Maritza Morgan & Robert T. Jones. Afterword by Robert T. Jones. Pictures by Maurice Sendak.
New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, [1985]. First English edition. The first Czech edition was published in 1921, having been published previously as a serial in the Brno newspaper Lidove Noviny (People’s News). This is a presentation copy, signed in ink by Sendak: “For Norman Karlson / hello! / Maurice Sendak / Dec. 85.”. Title page and half-title page illustrated in color. Preliminary color illustration. Profusely illustrated in color throughout. Color pictorial endpapers. Binding extremities very slightly rubbed. Inscribed by Maurice Sendak on preliminary illustration. A near fine copy in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with very light creasing and rubbing, a few minor tears, and slight toning on the inner side. Publisher’s dark green cloth with a gilt-lettered spine. Quarto. [4], 187 pp. Item #16344
Rudolf Tesnohlidek (1882-1928) was a Czech poet, journalist and translator. The Cunning Little Vixen proved tremendously popular during its initial run as a newspaper serial in 1920 and was soon published in book form. It has never been out of print since, though it has not been translated to another language before. A mixture of poetry and farce, The Cunning Little Vixen follows two characters, the forester Bartos, a man coming to grips with nature, and Vixen Sharp-Ears, the epitome of feminine charm who forsakes innocence in order to survive.
Price: $150.00