Just So Stories
By Rudyard Kipling
 
First edition thus, first impression (with coloured illustrations), London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1913. Originally published in 1902.
 
Quarto. Original dark blue cloth, gilt-lettered and elaborately gilt-decorated on the upper board and spine with an elephant medallion design; gilt rules to boards. Top edge gilt.
 
The binding is somewhat tender, but all holding firm and square, with only light rubbing to extremities and a couple of knocks to corners. The gilt remains notably bright and well defined. Internally, the text is clean and sound, with the occasional faint spot of foxing, chiefly to the preliminary and terminal leaves. A little loss to top corner of first three leaves with an early gift inscription - unobtrusive and neatly penned - to the front free endpaper. The coloured plates by Joseph M. Gleeson remain fresh and vivid.
 
A handsome example of the first coloured illustrated edition of Just So Stories, incorporating Gleeson’s celebrated colour plates for the first time.