The Snowman

The Snowman
By Raymond Briggs

First edition, first impression. Double-signed and dated by the author to the title page, the first time being in the year of publication, and the second being at a book signing in Lewes in 2003. Accompanied by a Christmas card with a note from Briggs: ‘Thanks for the tickets. Phoned 428 times! No buggering answer service!!! Couldn’t go. Bum. Happy Blooming Christmas. Raymond’, and a rare print colour print from the film showing James an the Snowman flying over the town, which has been signed and incribed by Raymond Briggs and algo by composer Howard Blake and choirboy singer, Peter Auty.

In the haste to complete the film for its Christmas 1982 release, Auty’s name was regrettably omitted from the credits. The following year, EMI issued a cover version of Walking in the Air, performed by their newly signed choirboy Aled Jones. Promoted extensively, Jones’s rendition became a seasonal staple and, over time, gave rise to the enduring misconception that he had been the original voice in the film. It was not until the 20th anniversary in 2002, when the cartoon was cleaned and digitally remastered, that Auty’s contribution was formally acknowledged and his name restored to the opening credits.

Original pictorial boards. A few superficial and inconspicuous scratches to covers with a couple of knocks to edges and some of the usual yellowing to boards and offsetting to front endpaper and paste-down, otherwise a very good copy indeed of a book that is both uncommon and highly desirable signed.