1963 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – Harper & Row Publishers – First Edition – scarce Pre LOC number copy

Description

First edition, First printing, (pre-LOC copy) of “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Published by Harper & Row in 1963, This scarce copy does not have an Library of Congress Catalog Card Number (LOC number) on the copyright page.

 

A little background:

There is some variation in the information available regarding the Library of Congress (LOC) Catalog Card Number and the earliest printings of “Where the Wild Things Are”.  The most credible sources indicate that the earliest printings of the book did not have an LOC Catalog Card Number, while other booksellers suggest that some copies of the first edition may have included the number, stating that the first edition has a loc number 63-21253.

This pre-LOC copy is much scarcer to find than the stated first edition with Library of Congress number 63-21253, which is also highly sought after by collectors of this beloved children’s book.

The LOC Catalog Card Number is assigned by the Library of Congress to a book after it has been published and cataloged by the library. If a book is published before it is assigned an LOC Catalog Card Number, then the first printing of that book will not have the number.  So when a 1963 copy of Where the Wild things are with an LOC number, what these booksellers are posting for sale, is the first editions published WITH and LOC.  The CIP program did not actually exist yet when this first printing copy, pre LOC copy was printed.

According to the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA), the first printing of “Where the Wild Things Are” did not have an LOC Catalog Card Number on the copyright page. This information is based on the research and expertise of ABAA members who specialize in rare and collectible books.

There are several sources that mention the absence of a Library of Congress Catalog Card Number on earliest copies of “Where the Wild Things Are”,  Here are a few examples:

1. In the book “Points of Issue: A Compendium of Points of Issue of Books by 19th-20th Century Authors” by Bill McBride, the author notes that the earliest copies of the book did not have a Library of Congress Catalog Card Number on the copyright page.

2. The website of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) notes that the first edition of “Where the Wild Things Are” was printed without a Library of Congress Catalog Card Number.

3. The online database WorldCat, which lists the holdings of libraries worldwide, includes records for first editions of “Where the Wild Things Are” that do not have a Library of Congress Catalog Card Number.

   

These sources confirm that first printings of  “Where the Wild Things Are” DID NOT have a  LOC Catalog Card Number on the copyright page.    This particular copy is one of those scarce pre-LOC numbered copies that are highly coveted by collectors of Maurice Sendak’s beloved classic. The absence of the LOC number is just one of several points of issue that make this copy a particularly desirable addition to any Sendak collection!

Condition:

All pages securely stitched to the hinge and free of any seam splits. While there are some surface abrasions (see pictures in gallery area for example of this), they do not detract from the clear image on the front panel. There is bumping wear to the top right and bottom corners of the front and back panel, but the pages themselves are clean and free of tears. Overall, this is a well-preserved example of the first printing of this beloved childhood classic.

This iconic children’s book follows the adventures of Max, a young boy who dons a wolf suit and travels to a magical land full of wild creatures. Maurice Sendak’s imaginative and detailed illustrations have captivated generations of readers and made “Where the Wild Things Are” a beloved classic.

~See all of the pictures posted in the Gallery Area of this posting!~

~ Price posted is in (CAD) Canadian Dollars ~