Bemelmans’ Italian Holiday. Written and Illustrated by Ludwig buy Bemelmans. First Edition, First Printing. Houghton, Mifflin. Boston, 1961.

Ludwig Bemelmans was a celebrated children's author and illustrator especially well-known for his Madeline series. Born in Austria, he emigrated to the United States in the 1910s and eventually joined the U.S. Army in the midst of WWI. He became an officer and a U.S. citizen. After the war, he pursued an artistic career, one that was slow to blossom. But a shift came with the first Madeline title in 1939. Its success led to a lifetime of artistry. He published dozens of books, eventually winning the Caldecott Medal for his 1953 sequel to Madeline, titled Madeline's Rescue. Bemelmans almost always paired his elegant prose with signature watercolor paintings and drawings, which became his distinct style. Bemelmans' Italian Holiday is a highpoint example–it is a more mature description of his time in Italy, told with candor for an adult audience.


This first edition, first printing is in very good condition. In the original half cloth boards, very good with only rubbing to head and foot buy of spine and a paper residue transferred from the dust jacket to the front board. Text block fine. In the original dust jacket, very good with only chips, closed tears to edges, and some fading.


A scarce first edition of Bemelmans' Italian Holiday, wonderfully illustrated.