Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. DAHL, Roald.

First edition, first issue, in the first state dust jacket, of Dahl's "most famous children's book" (Sturrock p. 109). The US edition precedes the UK edition by three years. The first issue can be distinguished by six lines of printing information on the final page; this was cut to five in subsequent issues. The first state of the dust jacket does not carry an ISBN number on the lower cover. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory secured Roald Dahl's international reputation as a children's author, following the promise of James and the Giant Peach (1961). Its blend of dark humour, moral fable, and wild invention established the hallmarks of his style, while Willy Wonka became one of his most enduring creations. The book's huge commercial success, bolstered by film and stage adaptations, made it central to Dahl's career and to the modern canon of children's literature. Grolier Children's 100, 98. Donald Sturrock, Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl, 2010. Octavo. Frontispiece and illustrations throughout by Joseph Schindelman. Original red cloth, spine lettered in gilt, front cover stamped in blind, yellow endpapers, top edge purple. With dust jacket. Bumps to spine ends; jacket unclipped, lightly rubbed, spine a little toned with tiny nicks to ends: a fine copy in near-fine jacket.