Eloise: A Book for Precocious Grown Ups.

THOMPSON, Kay. Illustrated by Hilary Knight.

$7,800.00

Item Number: 133814

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1955.

First edition of the first book in Kay Thompson’s beloved Eloise series. Quartos, original boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by both the author and illustrator on the front free endpaper, “Kay Thompson  AND HILARY KNIGHT WITH ME, ELOISE!” Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed by both Thompson and Knight.

American author, singer, and actress Kay Thompson began her career in the early 1930s as a choral director for radio and went on to become MGM Studios' top vocal arranger and coach to such stars as Judy Garland, Lena Horne, and Frank Sinatra. A resident of The Plaza Hotel in New York City, she became most notable for authoring the Eloise series of children's books, rumored to be inspired by the capers of her goddaughter, Liza Minnelli, daughter of personal friend Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli. Thomspon collaborated with American illustrator Hilary Knight to create the whimsical black, pink, and white theme that became a trademark of the illustrated series. All four books in the original series were bestsellers upon release, adapted into television projects, and a fifth installment, Eloise Takes a Bawth, was published posthumously from Thompson's original manuscripts. The series became so synonymous with The Plaza that an honorary portrait of Eloise was hung in the hotel's Palm Court and both an Eloise Suite and Eloise Menu have become special features at The Plaza.