Children's Books
Rare Children’s Books & First Edition Children’s Books for Sale Onine
If you’re looking for first edition or rare children’s books online, you’ve come to the right place. Raptis Rare Books is a trusted antiquarian book dealer, and we maintain a wide variety of collectible and antique books. Browse through our entire collection of children’s books here online, use our filters to find the exact book you want then call or email to ask a question about the book or order online today.
Showing 1–40 of 444 results
-
Browse by Category
- Browse All
- Americana
- Art and Architecture
- Autograph Letters Signed
- Biography and Autobiography
- Children's Books
- Economics and Finance
- Featured Rare Books
- Fine Bindings and Sets
- First Edition
- First Edition>Signed
- Food and Wine
- Framed Autographs and Historical Documents
- Geography
- Gifts
- Gifts - For Her
- Gifts - For Him
- Gifts - Graduation and Celebrations
- Gifts - Holidays
- History, Law, and Politics
- Literature
- Music
- New Arrivals
- Philosophy
- Photography
- Poetry
- Presidents and World Leaders
- Religion
- Science and Natural History
- Science Fiction and Mystery
- Signed
- Signed & Autographed Books
- Sports and Leisure
- Travel and Exploration
- Uncategorized
-
“THE COLDER THE WINTER, THE WARMER THE SPRING": FIRST EDITION OF WALT DISNEY’S BAMBI
[DISNEY, Walt].
Walt Disney’s Bambi: Adapted from the Novel by Felix Salten.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941.
First edition of this storybook version of Disney’s classic. Slim folio, original pictorial paper boards, illustrated throughout. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a few small closed tears. Uncommon in this condition.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 133151
-
“THE COLDER THE WINTER, THE WARMER THE SPRING": FIRST EDITION OF WALT DISNEY’S BAMBI
[DISNEY, Walt].
Walt Disney’s Bambi: Adapted from the Novel by Felix Salten.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941.
First edition of this storybook version of Disney’s classic. Slim folio, original pictorial paper boards, illustrated throughout. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a few small closed tears, bookplate.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 146454
-
“I want to leave behind me the name of a fellow who never bullied a little boy, or turned his back on a big one": Tom Brown's School Days; finely bound by morrell
[HUGHES, Thomas].
Tom Brown’s School-Days.
London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1897.
Finely bound example of the author's popular and influential work. Octavo, bound in three quarters crushed levant morocco by Morrell, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated. In very good condition.
Price: $125.00 Item Number: 139643
-
First edition of The Guiding Book; containing short stories by Rudyard Kipling, Katharine Tyman, Bella Sindey Woolf and many others; with illustrations by Edmund Dulac and W. Heath Robinson
[KIPLING, Rudyard] Edited by Ann Kindersley.
The Guiding Book: Dedicated to the Girlhood of Many Countries and to All Those with a Heart Still Young.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, nd.
First edition of this book for Girl Guides containing stories by Rudyard Kipling, Katharine Tyman, Bella Sindey Woolf and many others. Quarto, original publishers cloth with colored pictorial onlay to the front panel. With seven illustrations in color by Edmund Dulac, Margaret Tarrant, Lawson Wood, Heath Robinson and others on mounted plates. In very good condition.
Price: $125.00 Item Number: 120349
-
Finely bound collection of stories and poems from Little Folks Magazine; featuring Arthur Rackham's first printed colour plate
[RACKHAM, Arthur].
Little Folks: A Magazine For Young People.
London: Cassell and Company Limited, 1899.
Finley bound collection in book form of stories and poems from Little Folks Magazine, featuring Arthur "Rackham's 1st printed colour plate" (Riall, p. 212), Up a Tree, used as the frontispiece. Quarto, Vol. II, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, illustrated with numerous full page and in-text illustrations including 6 coloured plates. In very good condition.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 142843
-
"Animals don't behave like men,' he said. 'If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill they kill. But they don't sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures' lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality": First Edition of Watership Down; Signed by Richard Adams
ADAMS, Richard.
Watership Down.
London: Rex Collings, 1972.
First edition of the author's first and most beloved work. Octavo, original brown cloth, folding map. Boldly signed the author on the title page, "Yours sincerely Richard Adams." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box by Asprey. An exceptional example, uncommon signed.
Price: $8,200.00 Item Number: 136602
-
First Edition of Watership Down; Inscribed by Richard Adams
ADAMS, Richard.
Watership Down.
London: Rex Collings, 1972.
First edition of the author's first and most beloved work. Octavo, original brown cloth, folding map. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author withing two months of the publication date on the front free endpaper, "To Jessie and Derek Hinrich with best wishes from Richard Adams January 1973." Fine in a fine dust jacket. The nicest example we have ever seen.
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 143483
-
"Animals don't behave like men,' he said. 'If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill they kill. But they don't sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures' lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality": Signed Limited Edition of Watership Down In Full Morocco; Signed by Richard Adams and with an original watercolor by John Lawrence
ADAMS, Richard.
Watership Down.
London: Paradine, 1976.
Signed limited edition, one of only 250 numbered examples and with an original watercolor, this copy being number presentation copy from the author. Octavo, bound in full morocco bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front panel with gilt stamping of two rabbits, raised bands, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Boldly signed by Richard Adams and with an original watercolor from the illustrator, John Lawrence and signed by him. In fine condition with the original slipcase. Rare.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 147959
-
First Edition of The Charles Addams Mother Goose
ADDAMS, Charles.
The Charles Addams Mother Goose.
New York: Windmill Books, 1967.
First edition of this work by the legendary cartoonist. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.
Price: $125.00 Item Number: 145955
-
"Perhaps Mr. Addams is happiest in his dealing with the macabre": First Edition of Charles Addams' Drawn and Quartered
ADDAMS, Charles. [Chas Addams].
Drawn and Quartered.
New York: Random House, 1942.
First edition of this classic collection of Addams’ cartoons. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a good price-clipped dust jacket. Foreword by Boris Karloff. Uncommon in this condition.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 147269
-
"He has plucked the sting from our bad dreams": First Edition of Charles Addams' Black Maria
ADDAMS, Charles. [Chas Addams].
Black Maria.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1960.
First edition of this classic collection of Addams’ cartoons. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $150.00 Item Number: 147271
-
"It is frankly devoted to man's crazy, triumphant return to the mud from which he came": First Edition of Charles Addams' Addams and Evil
ADDAMS, Charles. [Chas Addams]; Wolcott Gibbs.
Addams and Evil.
New York: Random House, 1947.
First edition of this classic collection of Addams’ cartoons. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Very good in a very good dust jacket. Introduction by Wolcott Gibbs.
Price: $175.00 Item Number: 147270
-
"The house seemed swarming with boys, who were beguiling the rainy twilight with all sorts of amusements": First edition, first state of Louisa May Alcott's Little Men
ALCOTT, Louisa May.
Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys.
Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1871.
First edition, first issue of the second book it Alcott's Little Women trilogy. Octavo, original green cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel, illustrated with plates including tissue-guarded frontispiece. In near fine condition. A desirable example.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 111024
-
“I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen": Rare FIRST EDITIONS OF BOTH PARTS OF LITTLE WOMEN, IN ORIGINAL CLOTH
ALCOTT, Louisa May.
Little Women and Little Women, Part the Second.
Boston: Robert Brothers, 1868-69.
First editions of both volumes of Alcott's most coveted work. Octavo, two volumes in the original green cloth with gilt titles and decorations to the spine and front panel, each volume illustrated with four plates including frontispiece; those in the first part created by the author’s sister, May. Little Women is first issue with all points including Little Women priced at $1.25 in terminal advertisements. Little Women, Part Second is mixed state. Both volumes are in near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities, contemporary inscription to volume one. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise clamshell box.…
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 147420
-
First edition of Joan Walsh Anglund's Nibble Nibble Mousekin: A Tale of Hansel and Gretel; inscribed by her
ANGLUND, Joan Walsh.
Nibble Nibble Mousekin: A Tale of Hansel and Gretel.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1962.
First edition of Anglund's beloved children's classic. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper with an original drawing of two strawberries, "For Toby & For Johnny! Joan Walsh Anglund." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Price: $400.00 Item Number: 123646
-
"It's Christmas! Sweet Christmas! The Happy day of Home": First edition of Joan Walsh Anglund's A Christmas Book; warmly inscribed by her
ANGLUND, Joan Walsh.
A Christmas Book.
New York: Random House, 1983.
First edition of the revered children's book author's charming children's tale. Quarto, original illustrated boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, "Sarah, Merry Christmas 1983 - Joan Walsh Anglund." In fine condition.
Price: $475.00 Item Number: 123670
-
First edition of Isaac Asimov's The Heavenly Host; inscribed by him
ASIMOV, Isaac. Illustrated by Bernard Colonna.
The Heavenly Host.
New York: Walker and Company, 1975.
First edition of Asimov's classic juvenile science fiction adventure. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Bernard Colonna. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, "To Steve Isaac Asimov." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 142300
-
First Literary Guild Edition of Miss Hickory; Inscribed by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
BAILEY, Carolyn Sherwin.
Miss Hickory.
New York: The Junior Literary Guild and The Viking Press, 1946.
Scarce first Junior Guild edition of this Newbery award-winning children's book. Octavo, original red cloth with black lettering to the spine and black flower decoration to the front panel, pictorial endpapers, red top stain, lithographs by Ruth Gannett. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Helen Fuller, my treasured friend, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey and Miss H." Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Uncommon in the original jacket and signed.
Price: $200.00 Item Number: 145270
-
First Edition of Lynne Reid Banks' The Indian In The Cupboard; Signed by her and illustrator Brock Cole
BANKS, Lynne Reid; Illustrated by Brock Cole.
The Indian In The Cupboard.
Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1980.
First edition of the author's classic work. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Brock Cole. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "For Andrew - Best wishes, Lynne Reid Banks Dorset, UK Sept. 2008." Additionally signed by the illustrator Brock Cole on the title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket illustration by Robert Sabin. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed by both Banks and Cole.
Price: $1,400.00 Item Number: 121662
-
First Edition of Old Mac Donald Had An Apartment House; Signed by Ron Barrett with an original drawing
BARRETT, Judith and Ron.
Old MacDonald Had An Apartment House.
New York: Atheneum, 1969.
First edition of the first book in the Barrett's collaboration. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Signed by the illustrator with an original illustration on the front pastedown, "Make Your Garden Grow! Ron Barrett." In very good condition, name blacked out on the front pastedown. Rare.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 148018
-
Rare Association Copy of Arthur Rackham's Illustrated edition of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens; signed and inscribed by J.M. Barrie, George Frampton, Princess Beatrice, Princess Marie Louise, Nadejda Mountbatten, and Arthur Rackham with an original drawing
BARRIE, J.M. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
London: Hodder & Stoughton Limited, n.d.
New edition of Rackham’s highly-sought-after masterpiece, which established his reputation as one of England’s premier illustrators. Quarto, original publisher's green cloth elaborately decorated in gilt, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 50 mounted color plates complete with captioned tissue guards including frontispiece. Association copy, signed by author J.M. Barrie on the verso of the front free endpaper, signed by Arthur Rackham on the recto of the frontispiece with an original drawing as well as Nadejda "Nada" Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, signed by the sculptor of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, George Frampton on front pastedown, and signed by Princess…
Price: $18,000.00 Item Number: 142267
-
"Here is Dorothy herself in the person of Judy Garland, with Toto as Himself!": First Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer All Technicolor edition of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz; in the rare original dust jacket
BAUM, L. Frank.
The Wizard of Oz.
Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1939.
First Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer All Technicolor edition of Baum's most famous Oz book, the basis for one of the greatest films in cinema history. First printing with the gilt titles to the spine and printer's imprint to the copyright page (Bienvenue & Schmidt, pg 13). Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles and black labels to the spine, pictorial endpapers featuring photographs from the film. Illustrated with 8 tipped in color plates and numerous doutone plates and in-text illustrations by W. W. Denslow. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 105288
-
"and he slung the pack of toys over his shoulder and got into the chimney": First edition of L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus; finely bound in full morocco by The Harcourt Bindery
BAUM, L. Frank.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.
Indianapolis: The Bowen-Merrill Company, 1902.
First edition of this Christmas classic with the first state headings "Book First, Book Second and Book Third." Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery wit gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Six full color plates and illustrations throughout by Mary Cowles Clark. In near fine condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 142836
-
“Great heroes need great sorrows and burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It is all part of the fairy tale": First Edition of The Last Unicorn; Signed by Peter S. Beagle
BEAGLE, Peter S. with Peter B. Gillis; Art by Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon.
The Last Unicorn.
San Diego: IDW Publishing, 2011.
First edition of the graphic novel adaptation of Beagle’s classic second book, which follows the tale of a unicorn, who believes she is the last of her kind in the world and undertakes a quest to discover what has happened to the others. Octavo, original pictorial boards, illustrated by Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon. Boldly signed by Peter S. Beagle on the front end paper. In near fine condition.
Price: $400.00 Item Number: 147091
-
"They know the merriest tunes and dance the jolliest dances. They like witty stories and they love love": First edition of Tales Told From Holland
BEAUPRE MILLER, Olive. Illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham.
Tales Told in Holland.
Chicago and Toronto: The Book House for Children, 1929.
First edition of Maud and Miska Petersham's charmingly illustrated compilation of Dutch children's tales. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. In very good condition.
Price: $100.00 Item Number: 135419
-
“SUDDENLY THERE WAS A KNOCK WHICH MADE HER PAUSE— COULD IT PERHAPS BE SANTA CLAUS?”: FIRST APPEARANCE OF MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline’s Christmas.
New York: McCall's, 1956.
First appearance of Madeline's Christmas, a special insert in the 1956 Christmas edition of McCall’s Magazine. 12 mo, original wrappers as issued. In very good condition with some light wear to the rear panel.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 21044
-
Signed Limited First Edition of Bemelmans' Madeline and the Bad Hat
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline and the Bad Hat.
New York: The Viking Press, 1957.
Signed limited edition of the third book in Bemelmans' acclaimed Madeleine series. Quarto, original cloth. One of 985 copies signed by Ludwig Bemelmans. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase.
Price: $950.00 Item Number: 69041
-
“SUDDENLY THERE WAS A KNOCK WHICH MADE HER PAUSE— COULD IT PERHAPS BE SANTA CLAUS?”: FIRST EDITION OF OF MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline’s Christmas in Texas.
Dallas, Texas: Neiman-Marcus, 1955.
First edition of Madeline's Christmas in Texas, which precedes the 1956 Christmas edition of McCall’s Magazine. 12 mo, original wrappers as issued, illustrated. In near fine condition. Scarce, especially in this condition.
Price: $1,400.00 Item Number: 95871
-
"But for a dog That kept its head": Ludwig Bemelmans Madeline's Rescue; Signed by Him
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline’s Rescue.
London: Andre Deutsch/Derek Verscholyle, 1957.
First British edition, early printing of the second book in the Madeline series, which went on to win the Caldecott Medal. Thin quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Ludwig Bemelmans on the half-title page. In near fine condition.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 114234
-
"Madeline, Madeline, where have you been? We've been to London to see the Queen": First Edition of Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline In London; Signed by Him
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline In London.
New York: The Viking Press, 1961.
First edition of the final book in the Madeline series published in Bemelmans lifetime. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated endpapers, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Ludwig Bemelmans on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed and in this condition.
Price: $3,500.00 Item Number: 136987
-
"In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines...": First Edition of Madeline; Inscribed by Ludwig Bemelmans
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1939.
First edition, first issue of this classic children's book with the 1939 date on the title page and with 12 girls instead of 11 in the "They went home and broke their bread" illustration. Thin folio, original illustrated boards, color illustrations throughout, illustrated endpapers. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "For Elinor Green Ludwig Bemelmans." The recipient, Elinor Green, was the promotions director at Simon and Schuster in the 1940s, and married Merle Miller in 1948. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Light rubbing to the extremities and spine of the dust jacket,…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 146780
-
"The cat sat on his lap and purred with mirth, the dog lay at his feet, and peace was on earth": First Edition of Ludwig Bemelmans' Sunshine
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Sunshine: A Story About the City of New York.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1950.
First edition of this story about the city of New York by the author of Madeline. Quarto, original illustrated boards, illustrated throughout. In very good condition.
Price: $50.00 Item Number: 146781
-
First Edition of Fifi; Inscribed by Ludwig Bemelmans with a large drawing of Fifi the Dog
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Fifi.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940.
First edition of this children's story. Thin quarto, original illustrated boards, color illustrations throughout, illustrated endpapers. Association copy, inscribed by the author opposite the title page, "For Elinor Green Ludwig Bemelmans" with a large charming drawing of the titular 'Fifi'. The recipient, Elinor Green, was the promotions director at Simon and Schuster in the 1940s, and married Merle Miller in 1948. Unsurprisingly, they divorced after 4 years, but remained friends. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. A nice association.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 146782
-
"But for a dog That kept its head": Ludwig Bemelmans Madeline's Rescue; Inscribed by Him
BEMELMANS, Ludwig.
Madeline’s Rescue.
New York: The Viking Press, 1955.
First edition, early printing of the second book in the Madeline series, which went on to win the Caldecott Medal in 1954. Thin quarto, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Linda with love Ludwig Bemelmans Christmas 1955." Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 146919
-
"BUT HE NEVER KNEW THAT REALLY IT WAS HIS OWN BUNNY, COME BACK TO LOOK AT THE CHILD WHO HAD FIRST HELPED HIM TO BE REAL": FIRST EDITION OF MARGERY WILLIAMS' BELOVED CHILDREN'S CLASSIC THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
BIANCO, Margery Williams.
The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real.
London: Heinemann, 1922.
First edition, English issue (published simultaneously with the American issue) of this beloved children’s classic, “one of the first modern picture books, a perfect combination of story and pictures” (Mahony, 234), with seven beautiful color illustrations by William Nicholson. Quarto, original paper-covered pictorial boards and cloth spine, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with seven color illustrations (three double-page) by William Nicholson. In very good condition. Uncommon.
Price: $22,500.00 Item Number: 138402
-
First edition of The Oxford Book of Poetry for Children; profusely illustrated by Brian Wildsmith and elaborately bound in full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe
BLISHEN, Edward. Illustrated by Brian Wildsmith.
Oxford Book of Poetry for Children.
London: Oxford University Press, 1963.
First edition of Blishen and Wildsmith's acclaimed illustrated compilation of children's poetry. Quarto, bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. With illustrations by Brian Wildsmith. In fine condition.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 129349
-
BLOS, Joan W.
A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl’s Journal, 1830-32.
New York: Scribners, 1979.
First edition of the author's Newberry award-winning novel. Octavo, original red boards. Fine in a very good plus dust jacket with a few short closed tears, and without the Newberry award winning sticker on the front panel. Signed by the author who has added some lines from this work.
Price: $250.00 Item Number: 1797