2007 Rare Book - Mr. Rabbit's Christmas Wish by Charles van Sandwyk

A rare and beautifully produced second printing of Charles van Sandwyk’s Mr. Rabbit’s Christmas Wish, presented in the particularly desirable green-grey metallic binding variant, with exquisite tipped-in colour illustrations and delicate calligraphy. Author: Charles van Sandwyk. Title: Mr. Rabbit’s Christmas Wish: Translated for Humans by Charles van Sandwyk. Publisher: Vancouver: Charles van Sandwyk Fine Arts, 2007. Edition: Second printing (stated), from a limited edition of 2,000 copies. Scarce green-grey metallic binding variant. Language: English. Pages: Unpaginated (15 pages). Size: 9 x 6.5 inches. Binding: Fine original hand-stitched pictorial card covers in the scarce green-grey metallic variant, beautifully decorated with an inset colour illustration of Mr. Rabbit surrounded by elaborate holly and mistletoe ornamentation. The rear cover is clean and the binding remains attractive and well preserved. Protected in a removable mylar cover. Content: Fine, bright and clean throughout, with beautifully preserved colour illustrations, decorative papers and delicate handwritten-style lettering, as shown. Illustrations: Complete with Charles van Sandwyk’s delightful tipped-in colour illustrations, finely drawn monochrome vignettes, ornamental borders and decorative endpapers. Estimate: USD $250–300. The book: Mr. Rabbit’s Christmas Wish is an enchanting little Christmas book in which Charles van Sandwyk translates the seasonal wishes of a thoughtful woodland rabbit for the benefit of human readers. Sitting quietly with his pipe after washing the dishes, Mr. Rabbit considers the needs of his fellow creatures, wishing for gentler winter winds, plentiful food and kindness towards the smallest and most vulnerable inhabitants of the forest. The result is a tender and gently humorous celebration of generosity, compassion and the spirit of Christmas. This particularly attractive example belongs to the scarce green-grey metallic binding variant of the 2007 second printing, issued in a limited edition of 2,000 copies. Its exquisite production combines hand-stitched construction, textured papers, elaborate calligraphy, delicate pen-and-ink drawings and individually mounted colour illustrations. Rabbits, foxes, squirrels, birds and mice appear within richly ornamented pages of holly, berries and winter foliage. The charming final message, encouraging readers to trust nimble fingers and time-worn wisdom rather than mass-produced imitations, perfectly captures van Sandwyk’s devotion to traditional bookmaking and the handmade arts. The author: Charles van Sandwyk (born 1966) is a Canadian artist, author and illustrator celebrated for his imaginative watercolours, intricate pen-and-ink drawings and beautifully crafted books. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and raised in Vancouver, he developed a distinctive artistic world inhabited by fairies, woodland animals and eccentric little creatures. His work recalls the Golden Age of book illustration while remaining unmistakably his own, combining delicate observation, gentle humour and a deep affection for the natural world.