Comet in Moominland

Ernest Benn Limited. London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1965 8vo., pale blue boards lettered in gilt along spine; upper edge red; in the original publisher's dust jacket (16s net), illustrated with an image by Jansson featuring the Moomins, Snufkin and Little My; pp. [viii], 9-192; with charming line drawings throughout by Jansson; lightly rubbed and sunned to edges; slight compression to spine ends; jacket a little sunned along spine, with some shelf wear and toning to the lower panel; some nicks, chips, and short closed tears to edges and tips of spine/folds; a very good copy, nonetheless, in the vibrant jacket. Third impression, with new dust jacket artwork. Translated by Elizabeth Portch. Comet in Moominland was the second book in the series, originally published in Finnish in 1946, and in English in 1951. It was the first book to feature characters such as Snufkin and the Snork Maiden. Jansson would later revise the book, publishing a new edition in 1968 which contains a number of minor differences - the Silk Monkey character, for example, is later changed to a kitten. The plot follows the central characters as they discover the imminent arrival of a comet which is destined to hit earth. Some contemporaries of Jansson have speculated that the plot is a metaphor for nuclear weapons, with the book being written in the Summer of 1945 while the threat of atomic war was at the forefront of public consciousness. Though a third impression, this edition is becoming harder to find in nice condition, and features a slightly more toned-down image to that of the raging fireball appearing on the cover of the first English edition. A very nice example. . Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. 1965.