Swallows and Amazons

RANSOME, Arthur. Swallows and Amazons. Illustrated by Helene Carter. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1931. 8vo, 343pp. Green cloth pictorially stamped in black. Two-color illustrated map endpapers; two-color full-page map, two-color illustrated title page, and illustrated chapter-headings and tails. Spine and edges a tad sunned, spine ends a bit rubbed, slightest foxing to edges (but not extending internally), else a clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (spine a bit sunned, a few short, closed tears at spine ends). Scarce, especially in such enviable condition!

First US edition. The first of Arthur Ransome’s 12 adventure novels about a group of young children and their escapades around the Lake District of Northern England. The Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are on school holiday in the Lake District and are sailing a borrowed catboat named “Swallow,” when they meet the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy), who sail the boat, “Amazon.” What ensues is an imaginative adventure with fireworks, houseboat burglars, and, of course, sailing! The basis for two films, including the 2016 film starring Andrew Scott.