[Rarebooks] French Toys (1915)--brightly illustrated stories published to aid France in World War I

[Robin Bledsoe]

For your consideration, offered here first:

/French Toys./Paris: Editions de l’Avenir Feminin, 1915.48p, many bright 
color ills. by Andre Helle.Paperbound in original jacket (chipped, short 
closed tear to top front).One gathering partly split, a few stitches 
gone; overall very good, crisp, clean. $200 + s/h (trade discount)

A collection of original stories for children about various wooden toys 
(dolls, soldiers, puppets, an airship, balloon, sheepfold, and 
others).Published to encourage the purchase of French toys to support 
the World War I effort.“Children who will see the future for which are 
dying the sons of France, this book has been written for you.If you love 
the toys made in France, if you adopt them, you will help us to find 
work for the widows, the orphans, the wounded of the most terrible 
war.Help us children of a free nation for obtaining the triumph of 
French toys [sic].”

Stories by Pierre Loti, Frederic Masson, Henri de Regnier, Michel 
Corday, Tristan Bernard, J. Ernest-Charles, Marcel Boulenger, and Pierre 
Mille. Illustrator Helle and a M. Carlegle designed and sold toy 
soldiers in Paris.

A lovely copy of an appealing little book, which despite its print run 
of 15,000+ copies is somewhat uncommon.Scan of cover on request.

Not yet listed on our online sites.Thanks for looking.

-- 
Robin Bledsoe, Bookseller (ABAA)
1640 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA  02138   shop hours Tuesday-Saturday 12-6
617-576-3634

www.bledsoebooks.com

Good art and horse books since 1973