CORNELLI

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1927. Hardcover. Near Fine/Good Plus to Very Good. A late children's novel by Johanna Spyri, the Swiss author of "Heidi." Cornelli is the story of a widowed mother of four children who must weigh the needs of their futures against their current desires, particularly in terms of educations in art and music or apprenticeships to tailors and dress makers in late 19th century Europe. Serious stuff but a happy credible ending for grownups as well as children. Originally published in 1892, this copy is a Grosset & Dunlap reprint (there is a 1927 copyright date and a gift inscription dated June 10, 1942). About 5 3/4 x 8 1/4 inches, 304 pages in light-blue cloth-covered boards with silver lettering on front cover and spine. Decorative pictorial end pages and pastedowns with full-color frontispiece. Previous owner's bookplate pasted to inside front cover (partially hidden by dustjacket). The front panel of the dustjacket has illustration of young girl in white dress being greeted by older woman at her front door. Back panel has list of "children's favorites" published by Grosset & Dunlap. Boards show four tiny white spots on blue cloth front panel, o/w boards are free from surface and edge wear except very lightly bumped corners and spine ends. Dustjacket shows considerable wear at edges and along folds with numerous small tears and chipping. That said, dj remains in one piece with none of its graphic elements significantly damaged. This is not ex-library, not remaindered, not price-clipped. It is a copy presented as a birthday gift to a 9-year-old and kept with care since then.