Signed first edition of The Wind in the Willows put on sale

Published on Thursday 4 March 2010 09:05

FOR any diehard fan of The Wind in the Willows it would be a dream come true – owning a first edition copy signed by its Edinburgh author Kenneth Grahame.

Now that dream could become a reality, when the rare book goes up for auction in London later this month with a guide price of up to 5,000.

The edition was given to a friend's daughter in 1908 as a gift, and has a handwritten inscription and signature from its author.

Luke Batterham, a specialist in books at Bonhams, said: "The book itself is relatively rare, but even more so owing to it being signed.

"Collectors love this sort of thing – imagining the moment when he handed the book over and knowing he had held it in his hands."

The book – described as the author's presentation copy – will go before bidders at Bonhams on 23 March and is expected to prove popular with collectors and fans of The Wind in the Willows.

It has not been revealed who handed the novel over to Bonhams, but it is said to be in a "fair" condition.

Grahame was born in Castle Street on 8 March, 1859, as the son of the advocate James Grahame.

In 1908, Grahame presented this first edition copy of The Wind in The Willows to the nine-year-old daughter of his friend and fellow author Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, who published under the name of Q and was responsible for such works as the Oxford Book Of English Verse 1250–1900.

The inscription reads: "To Foy Felicia Quiller-Couch from her affectionate friend, Kenneth Grahame, October 1908."

It is not known how Grahame and Sir Arthur became friends, but the latter is believed to have been the model for The Wind in the Willows character Ratty as they both enjoyed boats.

Both authors were known to have been united in grief, as Sir Arthur lost his young son Bevil in a flu epidemic in 1919, while Grahame's son Alastair committed suicide at Oxford University, two days before his 20th birthday.

He had been born blind in one eye and plagued by health problems his whole life.

Grahame himself died aged 73 in Pangbourne, Berkshire, having left Edinburgh as a young boy following the death of his mother, which saw him going to live with his grandmother in Cookham, Berkshire.

He went on to work for the Bank of England, retiring as its secretary in 1908.

Mr Batterham said: "This book is not in great condition, but it's not in bad condition. We are hopeful that it will go for the guide price. You never quite know, but it is one of the great classics."