The Jumblies

LEAR, Edward. The Jumblies. Drawings by Edward Gorey. NY: Young Scott [1968]. Oblong 8vo, [44]pp. Beige boards pictorially printed in black. Full-page b&w illustration on every other page. A fine copy in original pictorial dust jacket (half-inch x two-inch clean tear at top of rear panel, and three other tiny clean tears at edges). Signed by the artist, Edward Gorey.

First Gorey-illustrated edition. Lear’s nonsense poem, The Jumblies, had just a single illustration when first published, but Gorey, having loved the poem since childhood, decided to fully illustration the poem – and dedicated his illustrations to Foss, Mr. Lear’s beloved cat. In this endearing tale, the always happy Jumblies decide to set sail over rough seas in a sieve, and so they go, despite the concerns from their kin who elect to stay home. Are they brave or ridiculous?