First Printing of the First Edition

"Freddy the Pied Piper", by Walter R. Brooks with illustrations by Kurt Wiese, published by Alfred Knopf, New York in 1946, stated "First Edition", printed by Wolff. Only the copies of the first printing were marked "First Edition" without any other printings listed.

Freddy the Pig and his fellow animals...were the subject of 26 books by Walter R. Brooks, a New York advertising man and a staff writer for the 'New Yorker', that appeared between 1927 and Brooks's death in 1958. One of Brooks's many triumphs of tone was that his human characters were surprised, that the animals talked.

"A delightful detective story about the beloved animal characters on Mr. Bean's farm, whose adventures have entertained so many children."

Walter R. Brooks (1886-1958), American writer best remembered for his short stories and children's books, particularly those about Freddy the Pig and other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the "Bean farm" in upstate New York.

The first works Brooks published were poems and short stories. His short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" about a talking horse was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series 'Mister Ed' (credit for creating the characters is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks"). His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends

Kurt Wiese (1887 in Minden, Germany - 1974, Idell, New Jersey), nonfiction writer, painter. Illustrator Kurt Wiese was incredibly prolific, illustrating over 300 children's books, by authors such as Zane Grey and Rudyard Kipling. His most well known work are the illustrations for the original Bambi book. Wiese wrote and illustrated many children's books himself, winning the Caldecott Medal for Children's Literature twice.

German-born Wiese traveled in China selling merchandise as a young man. On the outbreak of WWI, he was captured by the Japanese, and turned over to the British. He spent five years as a prisoner, most of them in Australia, where his fascination for the animal life inspired him to start sketching. Completely self-taught, upon his return to Germany he worked for an animated film company for several years, where he developed the innovation of completing drawings on transparent material to avoid redrawing the background with every frame.He credited this work with teaching him quick and accurate draughtsmanship. He began his own story writing and illustration during this time, and continued with it during three years in Brazil before coming to America.

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Hard boards, original publisher's illustrated cloth (a little soiling and wear: see picture); 5.1/2" x 8.1/4"; illustrated endpapers, 253 pages + colophon, many illustrations, some soiling (mostly pages 3-5), a few corner folds, vertical fold of four first pages, good+ / very good binding and condition. [lgca]