< Back

Cregan, Mairin; Sewell, Helen (Illustrator).
Old John.
Publisher: George Allen & Unwin, London;
Date of Publication: 1937
Stock Code: 12914
First British edition. Octavo, pp., 183. Monochrome illustrated frontispiece, ten further illustrated plates and illustrated headpieces to selected chapters. Red and blue cross-hatched pattern on ivory cloth covers with black titles to spine and upper, illustrated cream and yellow end-papers, in publisher’s original colour illustrated dust-jacket. Máirín Cregan (27 March 1891 – 9 November 1975) was a teacher, writer, and fearless Irish nationalist, Republican activist and member of Cumann na mBan. Directly involved in the 1916 Easter Rising and Irish War of Independence, she received a medal for her service which including running guns and ammunition. Cregan was a teacher who later made her name writing stories for children, as well as plays and novels for adults. This is the first UK edition of her first children’s book, Old John, which gained considerable international success and attention. Originally published in New York in 1936, Old John is the tale of a kindly shoemaker living quietly at the edge of the forest with his family and animals, until a wicked fairy arrives and threatens disaster to the countryside. The Irish language edition, illustrated by Jack B. Yeats, was published a year after this edition in 1938. Some toning to the top edge and a small spot to the lower fore edge. Some minor creasing and nicks to dust-jacket commensurate with age. Otherwise no notable flaws, a near fine book in a very good dust-jacket. Sold