[MILNE, A. A.]. The House at Pooh Corner With Decorations by Ernest H. Shepard. London: Methuen & Co., 1928.
FIRST U.K. EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. Leather-bound; hardcover; octavo (18.5 x 12.5 x 1.8 cm); pp. xi, [1], 178, [2]. English text, with illustrations throughout by Ernest H. Shepard. Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in pink morocco, spine lettered and decorated with pictorial centre tools, raised bands, single rule to boards, multiple decorative blocks to boards, twin rule to turn-ins, floral endpapers with original endpapers bound at front, gilt edges. Condition: FINE. An immaculate copy, without previous ownership markings.
Notes: First edition, first impression, of the final Pooh book, featuring the first appearance of Tigger. Milne had bought his son a stuffed tiger, "Tigger", and told Shepard that he was longing to see the illustrations for the new character, who would become one of the author's most popular creations. "The House at Pooh Corner is probably now the most loved and popular of all as it introduces Tigger and the game of Poohsticks" (Thwaite 1992, p. 109). Published on 11 October 1928, it was received by critics with a delight tinged with sadness: "the Times Literary Supplement congratulated Milne on avoiding 'the temptation to repeat his successful formula mechanically', though it was 'sad to see the stories end" (Thwaite 1990, p. 336).
