Maurice Sendak Appraisal

Where the Wild Things Are 1st Edition Picture Book

This item is identified as a first edition of the classic children's picture book, "Where the Wild Things Are," written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. The book features a hardback cover with a white spine and a full-color illustration dominating the front. The illustration depicts a scene from the story, with a large, furry 'Wild Thing' creature in the foreground, seemingly asleep or resting, surrounded by an imagined jungle landscape with trees, lush foliage, and a small sailing ship in the background, all rendered under a starlit sky. The colors are muted, with blues, greens, and earthy tones prevalent. The title, "WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE," is printed vertically along the right side of the front cover in bold, black sans-serif lettering on a white band. Similarly, "STORY AND PICTURES BY MAURICE SENDAK" is printed vertically along the left side. A notable feature is a circular, gold-colored medallion adhered to the lower right corner of the front cover. This medallion is likely a Caldecott Medal or an honor sticker, often found on distinguished American picture books. The presence of this medal on a 1st edition copy is a significant detail. The book appears to be in relatively good condition for its age, though slight wear might be present on the edges and corners, as is common with frequently handled books. The binding seems intact, and the cover illustrations and text are clear and legible. This specific edition would date to 1963, given its 1st edition status and the publication year of the book. The craftsmanship is typical of a high-quality children's book of its era, with durable binding intended for repeated reading. No explicit manufacturing marks are visible on the cover aside from the title and author information.