Nash, Ogden (Sendak, Maurice)

You Can't Get There From Here

Boston, MA, USA: Little, Brown & Co., 1957. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Ogden Nash. “Every subject imaginable is touched on in these pages, and many subjects imaginable to nobody but Mr. Nash—from the new look in bankers to the story of Mr. Nagle, who had the misfortune to be what the Scots call a wallydraigle.” (from front & back flaps) (Frederic) Ogden Nash (1902-1971) was an American poet known for his light, humorous verse and his pun-laced slant rhymes. His poetry was featured in newspapers, magazines, and anthologies throughout his life, and he published 22 collections of poems, starting with Hard Lines published in 1931. Certain poems were reused for multiple collections as Ogden solidified his position in the literary canon, so those familiar with his work would have been excited to hear that “You Can’t Get There From Here is the first completely new collection of Ogden Nash’s poems since The Private Dining Room, published in 1953,” according to the flap copy. Nash’s poetry frequently featured animals and cartoonish stereotypes of various races and types of people, an indication of the acceptability of references such as those at the time of publication. There’s something for everyone though with silly animal verses that could be children’s songs as well. This copy is signed by Ogden Nash in thin, black ink on first front endpaper (see photos). Illustrations are provided by Maurice Sendak (1928-2012), the children's book writer/illustrator who gave the world Where the Wild Things Are (1963). Also present is a previous ownership signature in thin, black ink on inside front cover which reads, “Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Fisher”. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket: first edition, as stated on copyright page, presumed first printing with no reference to further printings present thereon. Book is in relatively near fine condition with minor-to-moderate discoloration, spotting to orange covers with patches of darker orange and speckling; minor bumping to the edges and corners of front, back covers and spine; minor spotting, age discoloration to the pastedowns inside front & back covers. Dust jacket is in relatively good-to-near-fine condition with closed tearing along top edges of front, back covers, along bottom edge of front cover near spine edge, at folded edge of back flap, and in center of spine; minor creasing where torn near bottom edge of front cover; minor-to-moderate bumping to the fine edges of front, back covers & spine with some slight creasing; minor-to-moderate paper loss at top edge of spine; minor-to-moderate rubbing, scratching to covers and spine. Near Fine / Good-Near Fine. [Item #7193]

Price: $150.00