Joyce James

1945 · ref. D7489 — likely Germany 1945. Paperback. Very Good. Heavy cardstock leaves oblong 325 x 250 mm bound with thin blue rope tassled along spine; pp. 54 with text handwritten in black ink in German and English with original illustrations in ink or ink and gouache both in text and full-page. Created from 32 leaves some of them glued together along the edges creating a new page when the author/illustrator wanted to change her lay-out text or illustration -- these have since become detached offering an interesting look at the author's creative process. Binding broken and leaves loose but in excellent condition suitable for display. The artwork is extraordinary -- showing cute little chicks as their adventure takes them from fields full of flowers to lakes brimming with colorful fish. It tells a story of 3 little chicks who find a mysterious blue egg which they are told not to play with but they do and learn some valuable lessons from the consequences. Though little is known about the author she appears in a tiny b/w photograph on the ultimate full-page illustration. More of her unrelated artwork is laid-in at rear including pastels of trees floral arrangements in gouache -- lovely suitable for framing. paperback