The Story of Babar (Folio Society) (2020)

Follows the incredible journey of le petit éléphant from bedtime tale to one of the most memorable and loved children’s stories of all time.

Jean de Brunhoff ’s original artwork for Histoire de Babar is held in the archives of The Morgan Library & Museum in New York, but is too fragile for permanent public display. Working closely with Christine Nelson, Drue Heinz Curator of Literary and Historical Manuscripts at The Morgan, we have faithfully reproduced the first sketches of Babar, de Brunhoff ’s original handmade mock-up book (maquette) and a facsimile of the French first-edition of the published book.

The Story of Babar also includes a fascinating commentary volume, bringing together a selection of writing on both Babar and de Brunhoff as well as a detailed annotation of each of the sketches and the maquette alongside thumbnail reproductions of every page. The commentary opens with Faïza Guène’s newly commissioned essay ‘The Go-Between’, and includes New Yorker columnist Adam Gopnik’s essay ‘Freeing the Elephants’ and Christine Nelson’s essay ‘Babar Begins’. The first edition is newly translated into English, from the original French, by Christine Nelson and Sophie Lewis.

Limited to 750 copies numbered by hand, this being number 37. Three volumes with protective tissue paper in presentation box with green cloth spine, decorated paper boards and with ribbon ties.