Le Merveilleux Voyage de la Goutte de Vitamin. Foreword by Andre Maurois.
[ New York: Coordinating Council of French Relief Societies, 1942. First edition of this children’s book that was sold to raise money for the Coordinating Council of French Relief Societies (CCFRS). It was written and illustrated by a class of French children from five to six years. The story follows a drop of vitamin, personified as a friendly American girl, who travels across the ocean to aid children in occupied France. She ends her journey when she jumps into the mouth of a hungry child. With seven full-page color lithographs. Aside from the printed preface, text is reproduced from handwriting (with children’s handwriting above, in French, and the translator’s handwriting below in English). The signatures of the children are reproduced on the last few pages. Some light offsetting from color plates. A very good, bright copy of a lovely book produced by French children during World War II. Original wrappers lithographed in blue, red, and black. Light blue comb binding. 8 in. x 5 in. [20] pp. Item #17039
“It often happens that my American friend say: ‘Of course it is terrible to see French children starving. We long to do something about it. But do you really think we can, without danger, send them Vitamins and milk? Can we be sure they will get it?’ The answer to this question has been given, time after time, by the American organizations that supervise the distribution; they know that the children, and they alone, receive the food; and they have many touching letters of thanks from the children themselves. Here is one of them,” (from the preface).
The CCFRS raised money for aid to France during World War II with a variety of publications and cultural events. One such fundraising effort was their involvement in the first Surrealist art exhibition held in the United States, which was organized by André Breton and featured the work of over thirty artists, including Marcel Duchamp and Hieronymus Bosch. The exhibition catalogue bears the CCFRS imprint.
Price: $1,000.00