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Frederick R. Gardner collection of Robert Lawson
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Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]Philadelphia, PA, 19103
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Robert Lawson was born in New York City on October 4, 1892, and spent his early years in Montclair, New Jersey. Lawson attended the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts (which today is Parsons The New School for Design) from 1911-1914, then served in France as a camouflage artist during World War I. After the war, Lawson returned to New York to work as a freelance illustrator for Designer, Harper’s Weekly, Vogue, and other publications. In New York he met fellow artist and illustrator Marie Abrams and they married in 1922, moving to Westport, Connecticut a year later. To pay off their house they designed a new greeting card each day for three years, until the Great Depression forced them to sell the house and return to New York to find work.
In addition to his commercial work designing greeting cards and advertising, Lawson illustrated his first children’s book, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat (serialized 1921-1922 in Delineator and published in 1922), although he was apparently displeased with the results and never included the work in his records or library. A gap of eight years followed the publication of Little Prince Toofat, during which Lawson concentrated on his commercial work before returning to children’s book illustration in 1930. Around the same time he began etching and proved skilled enough to receive the John Taylor Arms Prize from the Society of American Etchers in 1931.
Soon the Lawsons were able to return to Westport and Lawson began to focus almost exclusively on illustrating children’s books. In 1936 he achieved his greatest recognition with the art for The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf. Two years later came Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Florence and Richard Atwater, and in 1939 Lawson branched out to authoring and illustrating his own children’s books. His first book, Ben and Me, began a thematic trend in Lawson’s works, telling the story of a famous historical figure through the first-person narrative of a close animal friend. Ben and Me told the story of Benjamin Franklin and his mouse, Amos. 1941 saw I Discover Columbus, in which the parrot Aurelius told of his voyage with Christopher Columbus, and in 1953 Scheherazade the horse carried Paul Revere on his famous ride in Mr. Revere and I. The final variation was 1956’s Captain Kidd’s Cat, introducing children to the famous Scottish pirate’s cat, McDermot.
Lawson received the Caldecott Medal in 1941 for the patriotic They Were Strong and Good, and twice received Caldecott Honors: one in 1938 for Four and Twenty Blackbirds: Nursery Rhymes of Yesterday Recalled for Children of Today (1937) and one the following year for Wee Gillis (1938), written by The Story of Ferdinand’s Munro Leaf. One of his most famous works, 1944’s Rabbit Hill, based on the Lawsons’ home of the same name in Westport, Connecticut, won the Newbery Medal in 1945, and he received a posthumous Newbery Honor in 1958 for his final book, 1957’s The Great Wheel. Lawson illustrated more than sixty books in his lifetime, writing or editing twenty, and many of his books remain popular and widely read today.
Bibliography:
Children’s Literature Review, vol. 73.
Gardner, Frederick R. “Robert Lawson on My Shelves.” The Journal of the Long Island Book Collectors no. 3 (1975): 7-14.
Something About the Author, vol. 100.
This collection contains the literary papers of author and illustrator Robert Lawson. Lawson’s illustrations make up the bulk of this collection. The materials were primarily collected and compiled by Fredrick R. Gardner, and the collection includes some of Gardner's materials relating to his collecting project. Art for forty-seven titles is represented in the collection, including Lawson's well-known illustrations for Mr. Popper’s Penguins (1938) and the original dummy for The Story of Ferdinand (1936). The collection dates between 1900 and 1983 and consists of more than 1,200 matted illustrations for published and unpublished works (primarily pen and ink, but also including etchings and works in graphite and watercolor), an audiotape, correspondence, clippings, drafts, photographs, promotional materials, slides, and typescripts. There is also a framed self-portrait in oil paint and a filmstrip of the Caldecott-winning They Were Strong and Good. Frederick R. Gardner also collected first editions for most of Robert Lawson's published books, including several that are inscribed by Lawson.
The papers of Robert Lawson include unpublished manuscript drafts, reviews and critical material on his life and work, a selection of his correspondence, and a number of his published articles and speeches, including his acceptance speech for the 1945 Newbery Award for Rabbit Hill. There is a small number of promotional items, largely related to The Story of Ferdinand and its 1938 film adaptation by the Walt Disney Company. The autobiographical material includes hundreds of photographs and slides taken by Robert Lawson and his wife, illustrator Marie Lawson, while on vacations and at their home “Rabbit Hill” (Westport, CT). There is a collection of publicity photographs of Robert Lawson and Marie Lawson, and photographs related to the publications of They Were Strong and Good and The Story of Ferdinand. Photographs for The Story of Ferdinand feature Lawson with the author, Munro Leaf, and their longtime editor, May Massee. The Lawsons also designed and produced Christmas cards which can be found along with Robert Lawson's sketchbooks from his World War I deployment in France and a small selection of Marie Lawson’s artwork.
The records of Frederick R. Gardner related to the collection include catalogs and records documenting his purchases and correspondence relating to Gardner's collecting project. There are a number of letters to the Lawsons' former neighbor, Margaret Otto, who served as executrix of Robert Lawson's estate and who donated a number of his etchings to the collection. Otto's sales ledger of Lawson material is also included. There is also an audiotape of a 1963 interview with Lawson's long-time editor May Massee, newspaper clippings (some regarding Gardner's career and some regarding Robert Lawson's), photographs Gardner took during a visit to Rabbit Hill after the Lawsons' deaths, and promotional materials produced by the Free Library of Philadelphia for the 1977 Lawson exhibit organized to celebrate Frederick R. Gardner's donation.
This collection is arranged in five series: I. Papers of Robert Lawson; II. Photographs and Slides; III. Illustrations; IV. Published Volumes; V. Papers of Frederick R. Gardner related to the collection.
The first series includes eight subseries: i. Articles; ii. Books; iii. Correspondence; iv. Personal art of Robert and Marie Lawson; v. Press clippings; vi. Promotional materials; vii. Short Stories; viii. Speeches. The subseries for correspondence is arranged chronologically, all other subseries are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
The second series includes nine subseries, arranged alphabetically by folder title: i. Cabinet card photograph of Marie Lawson; ii. Contact prints and negatives reprinted by the Free Library; iii. Hand-colored platinotype of Marie Lawson; iv. Lawson family photo album; v. Negatives and contact prints; vi. Publicity photographs; vii. Rabbit Hill; viii. Slides; ix. "They Were Strong and Good" filmstrip.
The third series includes fifty subseries, arranged alphabetically by title. It includes forty-seven books written and/or illustrated by Robert Lawson, along with work he produced for Designer and Pictorial Review. The final subseries is a collection of his unpublished artwork and etchings.
The fourth series is arranged alphabetically by title.
The fifth series includes five subseries: i. Catalogs and Inventories; ii. Correspondence; iii. Clippings; iv. Photographs of Rabbit Hill; v. Promotional materials relating to the Free Library of Philadelphia's 1977 exhibit "Robert Lawson: Illustrator and Author."
The great majority of the materials were collected by Frederick R. Gardner and donated in batches between 1969 and 1977, but some items were individually purchased by the library from various dealers at later dates. Additionally, the etchings and their accompany sketches were donated by Margaret G. Otto, Robert Lawson's neighbor and an heir to his estate.
Gift of Frederick R. Gardner, 1969-1977.
People
- Aikin, Lucy, 1781-1864
- Allen, Fred, 1894-1956
- Arms, John Taylor, 1887-1953
- Atwater, Florence
- Atwater, Richard
- Bianco, Margery Williams, 1881-1944
- Brewton, John Edmund, 1898-1982
- Bunyan, John, 1628-1688
- Chester, George Randolph, 1869-1924
- Coatsworth, Elizabeth Jane, 1893-1986
- Elliott, Huger, 1877-1948
- Farjeon, Eleanor, 1881-1965
- Farrar, Geraldine, 1882-1967
- Fish, Helen Dean
- Flagler, Harry Harkness, b. 1870
- Forester, C. S. (Cecil Scott), 1899-1966
- Gardner, Frederick R.
- Lang, Andrew, 1844-1912
- Lawson, Marie A. (Marie Abrams), 1894-1956
- Lawson, Robert, 1892-1957
- Leaf, Munro, 1905-1976
- Marquand, John P. (John Phillips), 1893-1960
- Mason, Arthur, 1876-1955
- Massee, May, 1881-1966
- Otto, Margaret G.
- Ring, Barbra, 1870-
- Robinson, Thomas P. (Thomas Pendleton), 1878-
- Sayers, Frances Clarke, 1897-
- Stephens, James, 1882-1950
- Sterne, Emma Gelders, 1894-1971
- Sterner, Albert, 1863-1946
- Tarn, W. W. (William Woodthorpe), 1869-1957
- Teal, Val
- Vining, Elizabeth Gray, 1902-1999
- Young, Ella, 1867-1956
Subject
- Publisher
- Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Caitlin Goodman
- Finding Aid Date
- December 2011
- Sponsor
- The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.
- Access Restrictions
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This collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.
Collection Inventory
This series is primarily fan mail from a wide variety of admirers but also includes some business correspondence (including the letter from the American Library Association awarding Lawson the 1940 Caldecott Medal) and a small selection of personal letters to the Lawsons.
This Week was the magazine section of the New York Herald-Tribune. Issue includes illustrations by Robert Lawson.
Youngs Wings was a monthly magazine put out by the Junior Literary Guild book club.
The folder for "The Silver Leopard" includes correspondence relating to its acquisition and to a related collection at the University of Southern Mississippi. It also includes a slide of Robert Lawson's proposed cover art for the story, were it to have been printed.
These photographs have been removed from the album and rehoused preserving original order.
With the exception of the slide box with partial index, these slides have been removed from their original boxes and rehoused preserving original order.
This file includes two 78 RPM records: the first is a voice-and-song children's recording of Walt Disney's "Ferdinand the Bull" adaptation released by Golden Record in 1950; the second record includes an excerpt from the Rudy Vallee program on November 24, 1938 of Sterlin Holloway reciting The Story of Ferdinand. There are also two CDs created by the Free Library in 2003 which include reformatted versions of the above records as well as an additional Rudy Vallee program excerpt and converted reel-to-reel interviews of Munro Leaf and publisher May Massee. The fifth item is a 1971 vinyl recording of Gwen Verdon reading The Story of Ferdinand and Wee Gillis.
Includes four of the illustrations produced to accompany the Designer serialization of Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories."
This item has been cropped and the remainder of the final art for this page is no longer extant.
This item has been cropped and the remainder of the final art for this page is no longer extant.
Includes two notes relating to its acquisition history and a handwritten note from Robert Lawson identifying the dummy as "original manuscript and pencil sketches."
Print labeled "one proof - plate destroyed."
Unused prospective illustration for Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards' Tirra Lirra: Rhymes Old and New (1932).
Unused prospective illustration for Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards' Tirra Lirra: Rhymes Old and New (1932).
Published in The House Beautiful magazine.
Published in The House Beautiful magazine.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Also includes a letter to Robert Lawson from Elizabeth Gray Vining dated March 2, 1942 (2 p. and envelope), and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times Book Review, the Herald-Tribune, and an unidentified newspaper.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Includes Heritage Club Sandglass newsletter and newspaper clipping of review from unidentified newspaper. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
RBD copy: "Limited to 300 numbered copies. This is no. 192." With an errata slip.
Journal of the Long Island Book Collectors ; no. 4
Copy 1: signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto and a publisher's advertisement from The Viking Junior Log dated Nov. 20, 1947. Copy 2: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "For dear Nina, who now knows the worst of Rob Lawson."
Includes newspaper clippings of review from the Daily Dispatch, Manchester; Evening Chronicle, Newcastle-on-Tyne; London Times literary supplement; Liverpool Echo; Books of To-Day; John O'London's Weekly; Press and Journal, Aberdeen; Evening Gazette, Middlesborough; Birmingham Mail; and Newcastle Journal. Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R.L. April. 23, 1949." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate and "Not for sale - Sample Complete Copy" label on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill, Sept. 1939." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the News Sheet of the Bibliographical Society of America, the New York Times, and the Boston Transcript. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Aunt Nina and Uncle Harold, of whom I am rather fond in spite of their fondness for cats, dogs, illustrators, etc. Signed, Amos, his mark [drawing of paw print]. Witnessed, Robert Lawson. Sept. 1939." Also contains advertising flyer, "A Personal Confession : Robert Lawson tells all."
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on title page.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso, and a Christmas card featuring the Betsy Ross house.
Bound with ten pages at front that include forms for certificates of confirmation and matrimony. Completed with manuscript additions recording the confirmation of Marie Abrams, and her marriage to Robert Lawson. Includes inscriptions to Marie Abrams from her aunts Rita [?] and Gertrude, and rector Zebulon S. Farland. Bound in bone; moire´ doublures; gilt and red edges. With black leather box lined in ivory silk.
Copy 1: Signed on title page by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R.L. 1955." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the Herald Tribune, the New York Times, and an unidentified magazine. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Nina and Harold with much love. Rob. Rabbit Hill, Jan, 1956."
Includes a list of the writings and illustrations of Robert Lawson for sale, p. [3-6]. Reproduces illustrations by Lawson on p. [1], [4], [6], [7], and [24].
Note written by an unknown person on front endpaper recto in pencil: "Mercer Carlett Christmas 1916 from Marie Abrams." Last ten pages are torn, with part of pp. 201-202 missing. The blank page following p. 209 has been excised.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
With Little, Brown and Company dust jacket.
Copy 1: Signed on title page by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R.L. Jan. 31, 1944." Includes newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times and the Herald Tribune. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Inscribed on paste-in on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For dear Nina, who has learned all this - the hard way. Rob. Rabbit Hill, 1956." Earlier inscription on half-title by Robert Lawson, pasted over: "To Minka, who knows all about these things, with much love, Robin. Jan. 31, 1944,"
Signed by Lawson, number 348 of 1500. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Signed on half-title by Pura Belpre´. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and advertising flyer from Viking Press.
Inscribed on endpaper recto by Marie Lawson: "Robert Lawson, from Marie, Christmas 1926." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto and bookseller's label on back board.
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Unnumbered presentation copy. Bears embossed stamp: "This is one of 15 presentation copies, out of series."
Copy 1: Inscribed on half-title by Marie Lawson: "For Vrinka, with a heartful of love and much gratitude - for without her aid and encouragement nothing would ever be done. T. Rabbit Hill, September 18th, 1943, Marie A. Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Marie Lawson: "For Nina with much love from Marie."
Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Robert Lawson, with affection and gratitude. Emma Gelders Sterne, October 1935." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Signed on title page by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R.L." Also includes newspaper clippings of reviews from the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, the Morristown Daily Record, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the New York Herald-Tribune. Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
RBD copy: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on cover verso. A letter dated Feb. 6, 1970, from Anne [Annette H.] Weston to Frederick R. Gardner is laid in on p. 1.
Inscribed on half-title by Colleen Moore: "For Mother, all good wishes, Colleen Moore."
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Robert Lawson, 1920."
Library holds volumes 1-3 only, in slipcase and glassines. "This edition consists of twenty-five hundred numbered copies, of which this is number 614."--Colophon. Dick Whittington & His Cat signed on colophon by illustrator Robert Lawson and General Editor Jean Hersholt.
Copy 1: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also includes newspaper clippings of reviews from the Chicago Sunday Tribune, the Herald Tribune, the Saturday Review, the New York Times, and an unidentified newspaper. Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Nina with much love, Rob Lawson." Also includes newspaper clipping of review from unidentified newspaper.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on p. [1].
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Inscribed on half-title by Elizabeth Hadas: "To Frederick R. Gardner, with sincere good wishes, from the translator, Elizabeth C. Hadas a.d. viiii Id. Mar. 1962." Includes newspaper clipping from an undidentified newspaper and a letter dated March 12, 1962, from Sylvia Dudley (associate editor of the David McKay Company) to Frederick R. Gardner. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
RBD copy 1: Inscribed to Marie Lawson by Robert Lawson on half-title: "For Marie with love. September 1937. Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso, and newspaper clippings of reviews from the Herald Tribune and an unidentified newspaper.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Rear endpaper mutilated.
RBD copy 3: With dust jacket. Bookseller's label on back endpaper.
Includes letter from printer, Sally Secrist, to Howell J. Heaney of the Rare Book Department of Free Library of Philadelphia. Also includes handwritten annotation by Howell J. Heaney describing the circumstances of the book's reprinting.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Illustration by Robert Lawson, "The Merrow" on p. 28a.
Illustration by Robert Lawson, "The Happy Valley - Autumn" on p. 28a.
Illustration by Robert Lawson, "The Huntress" on p. 18a.
Illustration by Robert Lawson, "Christmas Eve" on p. 26a.
Illustration by Robert Lawson, "The Golden Age" on p. 26a.
Illustration by Robert Lawson, "Something I Ate, No Doubt!" on p. 8a.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Also includes a typewritten copy of a letter by Elizabeth Coatsworth to "Miss Pattee" dated June 15, 1935, describing her approval of Lawson's illustrations.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Contains newspaper clippings regarding the Crystal Palace from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor.
Signed by Robert Lawson on second half-title, "My copy. R.L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Also includes newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times, Herald Tribune, and Saturday Review of Literature pasted in on first half-title.
Written in pencil on p. 1: "Rbt. Lawson's Estate." Possibly Robert Lawson's copy.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Also includes handwritten notes by an unknown person regarding Marie Lawson's bibliography and obituary in pencil on back endpaper recto.
Includes original bellyband in two pieces, and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Also contains Kodansha inspection stamp.
Includes paper bookmark in Japanese, advertising The story of Ferdinand and other children's books. Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Bears dust jacket of a later reprint.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on half-title.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
RBD copy: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on cover verso. Annotated on cover: "Helen Dean Fish on Lawson."
RBD copy: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on cover verso. Annotated on cover: "Macy on Rackham, Lawson On Rackham."
RBD copy: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on cover verso. Annotated on cover: "Make Me a Child Again - Lawson."
RBD copy: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on cover verso. Annotated on cover: "Marie on R.L., Newbery Acceptance Speech - Lawson."
RBD copy: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on cover verso. Annotated on cover: "Lawson obituary."
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Robert Lawson. Rabbit Hill, Westport, Conn." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times and the New York Herald-Tribune. This copy has both its original dust jacket and a color dust jacket from a later printing. Copy 3: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "To dear Harrol and Nina, from their favorite illustrator Robbie Lawson. Sept. 5, 1941." Also contains newspaper clippings of illustrations printed in the New York Sun.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and a letter from Ruth A. Barnes to Robert Lawson dated November 25, 1937.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
RBD copy: "Of this issue of The Journal of the Long Island Book Collectors, 300 copies have been printed. Nos. 1-100 are not for sale. This is number 30."--Colophon. Inscribed by Frederick Gardner on front cover: "Best wishes to you and for staff, Xmas 1969, Fred Gardner."
RBD copy: "Of this issue of The Journal of the Long Island Book Collectors, 300 copies have been printed. Nos. 1-100 are not for sale. This is number Not for Sale Review Copy."--Colophon.
RBD copy: "Limited to 300 Numbered Copies. This is No. 179."--Colophon.
Inscribed on endpaper recto: "Marie Abrams - 1902 - from Frances." Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
The Rare Book Department holds v. 1 and 3 (no. 5) only. Both volumes contain Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. V. 3 (no. 5) also includes a bookseller's label on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto and newspaper clipping of review from the Herald Tribune.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Also includes a fan letter dated Feb. 25, 1951 from Vera Mense to Robert Lawson, and an English translation of the letter.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R.L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times, the Herald Tribune, and an unidentified newspaper.
Signed on front endpaper recto by Robert Lawson: "Robert Ripley Lawson. Christmas, 1908." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clipping of a book review from the New York Times.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times, the New York Herald Tribune, and the Herald Tribune. Copy 2: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "To Nina, with love and penguins. Robert Lawson."
Copy 1: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Nina, who, like Sherzy, became a good American - with much love, Robbie L. Rabbit Hill. - Aug. 1953."
Copy 1: "This is number 298 of a special edition limited to 500 copies signed by the author." Signed on leaf laid in by Robert Lawson. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: "This is number 267 of a special edition limited to 500 copies signed by the author." Signed on leaf laid in by Robert Lawson. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on page [1] and on envelope of plates. Copy 3: "This is number K of a special edition limited to 500 copies signed by the author." Inscribed on leaf laid in by Robert Lawson: "For Nina Bowman, Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on envelope of plates.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the Herald Tribune and the New York Times. Copy 2: Inscribed on paste-in on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For dear Nina, with much love as always. Rob." Earlier inscription on half-title by Robert Lawson, pasted over: "For Junior with much love as always. Robin, Sept. 20, 1947." Bears variant dust jacket. Copy 3: Bears variant dust jacket.
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Signed by Robert Lawson on bookplate issued by the High Production Machine Co., Inc., pasted to endpaper recto.
Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For dear Nina, with love - Rob." Also includes a newspaper clipping from the New York Times.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board, Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto, and bookseller's label on back board.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Copy 2: Variant endpaper. Last 6 pages unopened. Front of dust jacket has large areas of paper loss.
Annotated on endpaper: "Robert Lawson's estate." Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Back board off.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Signed on front endpaper recto by Marie Lawson: "Marie Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate, and newspaper clippings of reviews from the Tribune and an unidentified newspaper, on endpaper verso. A letter dated June 6, 1939 from Helen Dean Fish (editor at Frederick A. Stokes Company) to Robert Lawson is also enclosed. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Harold + Nina. With much (affection) and (best wishes). Robbie Lawson. Sept. 1939."
Copy 1: Annotated on front board by Marie Lawson: "This book was given me by my 'Mammy' on Christmas when I was three years old. 'Mammy' - Pauline Crawford . . ." Signed on endpaper recto by Marie Lawson: "Marie Abrams." Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. This copy has become disbound.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Date of publication based on original publication in English and date of donation.
Inscribed by Marie Lawson on half-title: "For Nina with much love from Marie."
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and a newspaper clipping of review from the New York Herald Tribune.
Includes illustrations by Robert Lawson for Elizabeth Coatsworth's story "The Golden Horseshoe" on p. 3. Provenance: Donated by Frederick R. Gardner.
Includes illustrations by Robert Lawson for Elizabeth Coatsworth's story "The Golden Horseshoe" on p. 3. Provenance: Donated by Frederick R. Gardner.
Includes illustrations by Robert Lawson for Elizabeth Coatsworth's story "The Golden Horseshoe" on p. 3. Provenance: Donated by Frederick R. Gardner.
Includes illustrations by Robert Lawson for Elizabeth Coatsworth's story "The Golden Horseshoe" on p. 1. Provenance: Donated by Frederick R. Gardner.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Copy 1: Signed on title page by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times and the New York Herald Tribune, as well as an advertising flyer from Viking Press. Copy 2: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "For K.T. - our first copy. Robin. Sept. 1944." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. A letter dated October 16, 1944 from Roger L. Scaife at Little, Brown & Company to Robert Lawson, regarding Scaife's decision not to print "Rabbit Hill" under his imprint, is also enclosed. Copy 3: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 4: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Nina, who loves rabbits and, I hope, Robbie. Dec. 1944."
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy R. L. Jan. 2, 1948." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate and "Not for sale - Sample Complete Copy" label on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "To Minka with much love. Robin. Sept. 22. 1948." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R.L. Sept. 1948." Includes newspaper clippings of reviews from the Saturday Review, the New York Times, and the Herald Tribune. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on p. [1].
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate and "Not for sale - Sample Complete Copy" label on endpaper recto.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Includes newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times and an unidentified journal as well as a letter dated February 6, 1973, from Frederick R. Gardner to Helen L. Jones, and a reply dated February 13, 1973 from John G. Keller (editor at Little, Brown).
Originally published in: The Journal of the Long Island book collectors ; no. 3 (1975) With additional ill.
"Six hundred copies of this keepsake have been printed for distribution in November of 1977."--p. [4].
"This keepsake is issued in appreciation of Frederick R. Gardner's gift to the Free Library of Philadelphia of his collection of drawings, manuscripts, books, and mementos of Robert Lawson"--p. [5].
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Lacks dust jacket. Copy 2: Contains Catherine McDonald's bookplate on endpaper recto and bookseller's label on back endpaper. With dust jacket.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Copy 1: Inscribed on half-title by Marie Lawson: "For Sir Cateen with love, T. November 14th 1946." Reinscribed on second half-title by Marie Lawson: "For Peggy with love, Marie." Also signed on second half-title by Marie Lawson: "Marie A. Lawson, Rabbit Hill, Westport, Connecticut." Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Marie Lawson: "For Nina and 'Arold' with much love, Marie." Also includes newspaper clipping of advertisement for "Strange Sea Stories" by Marie Lawson.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Times and the Herald Tribune.
Signed by author on page following t.p. Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and letter dated July 24, 1934, from William Wister Haines to Robert Lawson.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto and newspaper clippings of reviews from the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Herald-Tribune. Copy 2: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "For Nina with much love, Rob." Also includes a letter of advertisement from the publisher. Half-title has been excised.
Signed on endpaper recto: "Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on front board.
Copy 1: Inscribed on title page by Munro Leaf: "To Marie who laughed, cried, aided, abetted and above all encouraged until - there was Ferdinand. With a large bough from my favorite cork-tree, Mun." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. First printing. Copy 2: Inscribed on front endpaper verso by Robert Lawson: "To Minka who watched his first unsteady footsteps + whose interest and enthusiasm helped so much. Robin, Aug. 8, 1936." Includes newspaper clippings from unidentified newspapers, a carbon copy of an "Ode to Ferdinand" by Robert Smaridge published in the Saturday Review of Literature, and a clipping of a listing in a rare book dealer's catalogue for another copy of this edition. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. First printing. Copy 3: Inscribed on title page by Munro Leaf: "To Rob - what the hell can I say about this bull to you. Munro Leaf (Mun)." Includes newspaper clippings from the New York Times and unidentified newspapers. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. First printing. Copy 4: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "With love to Nina, Robert Lawson." Signed on front endpaper verso by Nina Bowman. First printing. Copy 5: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "Little Georgie brings a posey from Ferdinand to my good friend - Barbara Johnson on September 1st, 1944," accompanied by a pen and ink drawing of a rabbit bearing a bouquet with the tag "Nantucket wild flowers." Also contains Barbara Johnson's bookplate on front endpaper and a typewritten description of the copy from a rare book dealer. Lacking dust jacket. Third printing.
Copy 1: Inscribed by Munro Leaf on p. [1]: "For Mrs. C.G. Thomas with all best wishes of Ferdinand and Munro Leaf," with pen and ink sketches of a bull's head and man's face. Also signed on p. [1] by former owner: "Gayle H. Thomas, May 3rd, 1938." 12th printing. Copy 2: Stamped on p. [5]: "Nicola D'Ascenzo Memorial Collection." Includes scrap of envelope addressed to Mr. Nicola Dascenzo. 16th printing. Lacking dust jacket.
Consists of 1961 Viking Press printing, extensively pasted over with text in Latin to form dummy for the book "Ferdinandus Taurus," published by the David McKay Company in 1962. Includes galley proofs of "Index Verborum" stapled to back endpaper, and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. A letter dated March 28, 1962 from Sheila Dudley (associate editor at David McKay Company) to Frederick R. Gardner is also enclosed.
Inscribed on endpaper recto by his mother to Robert Lawson: "Rob Lawson. Christmas 1910. From his mother." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Contains Marie Abrams' bookplate on front board and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson. Includes newspaper clipping of review from the New York Herald-Tribune and Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For little Harrol + Nina with much love. Robbie Lawson." Copy 3: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "To May or the Lady Miranda from one of the train bearers. Guess which. Robert Lawson." Also inscribed on half-title by Munro Leaf: "For May - Honest I try to keep my face straight. Love Munro." May is May Massee of Viking Press.
Inscribed on half-title by Marie Lawson: "For Peggy and Stuart with much love and gratitude for their interest in Marie. Marie A. Lawson, December, 1.9.5.5." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Signed on half-title by previous owner: "Property of Mrs. Wm. Throne, 163 30th Ave, San Mateo, Calif." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Lacking dust jacket.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto.
Copy 1: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "To dear Minka, with love from the author and affection from the illustrator. Robin 1940." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Copy 2: Includes newspaper clippings of reviews from New York Herald and the New York Times. Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Copy 3: Bears a variant dust jacket.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Copy 1: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the Commonweal, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Herald Tribune. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Nina and Harrol who ought to have enough of animals by now. Rob. Rabbit Hill Oct. 1954."
Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Robert Lawson." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clipping of a book review from the New York Times.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clipping of a book review from the New York Times.
Copy 1: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "Written and illustrated for, by and with K.T. Robin. July 8, 1943." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of reviews from the New York Herald Tribune, New York Herald Tribune Weekly Book Review, and New York Times Book Review. Copy 2: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Harold and Mina, with love and best wishes. Robbie Lawson. Aug. 4, 1943."
Bookseller's stamp on front cover verso. Signed on front cover verso by M. Boland.
Copy 1: Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clipping of review from an unidentified newspaper. Copy 2: Inscribed on title page by Robert Lawson: "For Nina and Harold Bowman, hoping they will welcome a little Scotch. Robbie Lawson, Sept. 1938."
Copy 1: Signed on page [3] by Munro Leaf, number 1 of 525. Inscribed on page [2] by Milton Glick: "My hat is off to the creators of Wee Gillis. Your books are a pleasure to the Viking Production department. Milton Glick." Also inscribed on page [2] by May Massee: "From the Rootabaga Country to Ballywooden - From Balls to Bagpipes - Wherever else your pen (brush?) may wander - My devotion follows after, May Massee." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper recto. Copy 2: Signed on page [3] by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and newspaper clippings of book reviews from the New York Times and an unidentified periodical.
Inscribed on p. [3] by Arthur Mason: "To Elaine Wield, with a wee bit of a lilt. Oh, for the [illegible] dance and the ring of the piper's tune. Arthur Mason."
Copy 1: Inscribed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "For Nina - the first I ever illustrated and please don't say 'My how he has improved!' Robbie. Rabbit Hill - July 16, 1952." Copy 2: Signed on half-title by Robert Lawson: "My own copy. R. L." Also contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso and a newspaper clipping of a review from the Herald Tribune. A letter dated March 24,1930, from Arthur Mason to Robert Lawson is also enclosed.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso. Plate [4] damaged.
Contains Frank Michael Halpern's bookplate on front paste-down.
Contains Frederick R. Gardner's bookplate on endpaper verso.
This series includes three copies of Frederick R. Gardner's inventory of his Robert Lawson collection, a folder of addenda to the inventory (including the etchings provided by Robert Lawson's executrix, Margaret Otto), and Margaret Otto's sales ledger relating to the estate of Robert Lawson and his artworks.
Includes some correspondence from Robert Lawson collected by Frederick R. Gardner as well as Gardner's own correspondence relating to his collecting project.