The Lady and the Tramp by Ward Greene, Illustrated by Joe G. Rinaldi, First Edition in Original Dust Jacket, [1953]

Greene, Ward. Lady and the Tramp. New York: Simon and Schuster, [1953]. First edition, first printing. Foreword by Walt Disney. Illustrated by Joe G. Rinaldi. Octavo. In the original blue and orange cloth boards, mottled in black, with the original illustrated dust jacket. 

Presented is a first edition, first printing of Ward Greene’s The Lady and the Tramp, the literary origin of one of the most enduring animated films produced by The Walt Disney Company. The book was published by Simon and Schuster in 1951, and features a foreword by Walt Disney and illustrations by Joe G. Rinaldi. The book is presented in its original blue and orange cloth, with embossed initials on the front board and titles on the spine, and the original illustrated dust jacket. 

Greene first conceived the story in his short work “Happy Dan, The Whistling Dog,” published in Cosmopolitan magazine in 1945, which attracted the attention of Walt Disney. At Disney’s request, Greene expanded the narrative into a full-length novel centered on Lady, an American Cocker Spaniel, and Tramp, a stray dog. The novel became the foundation for Disney’s 1955 animated feature Lady and the Tramp, one of the studio’s major postwar successes. Greene’s novelization was part of Disney’s broader strategy of integrating literary and cinematic storytelling during the studio’s mid-century expansion. 

The film achieved both popular and critical acclaim, praised for its  CinemaScope animation, story, and soundtrack. The film was later recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the “100 Greatest Love Stories of All Time,” one of only two animated films included on the list.

CONDITION:

Near fine condition. Octavo. In blue cloth boards with orange spine and blue decorative dust jacket. Light edgewear and bumping to boards. Overall clean internally and tight binding. Free of significant staining or foxing. Illustrated throughout. Dust jacket in very good + condition. Not price clipped, original $2.95 price. Some losses at top edge and corners. Scattered staining and surface abrasions. Protected in mylar.

Dimensions: 8 5/8" H x 5 1/2" W x 3/4" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.