The Cheese Doll

Abanindranath Tagore, The Cheese Doll, Calcutta: Signet Press, December 1945

ii, pp. 40 including 14 drawings by Satayajit Ray, 1 drawing is full-page, the rest in various sizes in the text. 12 printed in red, 2 in red and black; original illustrated paper-covered boards with cloth strip for spine
10.8 x 7.6 x 0.2 in (27 x 19 x 0.5 cm)

Translated by Nilima Devi with a 2-page introduction by Amiya Chakravarty. This book is an English translation of Abanindranath Tagore's classic children's book 'Khirer Putul'.

At the time Ray illustrated this highly elusive rarity he was only 24, having started work with D. J. Keymer, a British advertising agency, two years earlier as a junior visualizer on Rs. 80 per month. He subsequently also worked for Signet Press, a newly started publishing house, designing book covers and illustrating a children's version of Pather Panchali. But he was unknown at the time he did this book and his involvement in cinema was still in the distant future. This book published soon after the end of WWII the paper used reflects wartime economy and going by its scarcity the edition must have been quite small.

This lot is offered at NO RESERVE