Gum Blossom Babies
Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1917.
First edition in this format.
May Gibbs (1877–1969) was an Australian author and illustrator, best known for her iconic creation of the Gum Nut Babies, a group of whimsical, nature-inspired characters that became synonymous with her artistic style. Born in England, she moved to Australia with her family as a child, where she developed a deep affection for the Australian bush and its flora. Gibbs' first notable work, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (1918), introduced the lovable Gum Blossom Babies—tiny, anthropomorphized creatures living in eucalyptus trees.
'Today these booklets are generally regarded as children's items, but in their day they were issued in individual envelopes and were intended to be used as enlarged greeting cards.' (Holden, p 92).
String tied octavo in original wrappers with colour pictorial onlay, 28 pages, colour frontispiece and plates, embrowned title page otherwise fine.
Price (AUD): $473.00 other currencies