The Polar Express, Signed by Chris van Allsburg, First Edition in Original Dust Jacket, 1985

van Allsburg, Chris. The Polar Express. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1985. First edition. In original illustrated dust jacket and maroon hardcover boards with silver embossing and titles to spine. With laid-in bookplate signed by the author-artist Chris van Allsburg. 

Presented is a first edition printing of The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg. First published on November 12, 1985 by Houghton Mifflin, the sumptuously illustrated children’s book tells the story of a young boy's reawakening of faith in the magic of Christmas. The book is in its original illustrated dust jacket and maroon hardcover boards, embossed with a silver bell on the front and silver titles to the spine. The book also includes a laid-in bookplate signed by the author-artist van Allsburg. 

When asked about his inspiration for The Polar Express, van Allsburg has said that it started with a singular mental image: "A young boy sees a train standing still in front of his house one night. The boy and I took a few different trips on that train, but we did not, in a figurative sense, go anywhere. Then I headed north, and I got the feeling that this time I'd picked the right direction, because the train kept rolling all the way to the North Pole. At that point the story seemed literally to present itself."

van Allsburg's story was brought to life by his dreamlike illustrations in hues of blue and purple. The resulting magical tale now ranks among the best-selling children’s books of all time. “In the pantheon of books celebrating the magic of Santa Claus, The Polar Express stands as a beacon of enchantment, cherished by families for generations. Its narrative, combined with the visual artistry of the illustrations, conjures a sense of wonder that lingers long after the final page is turned.” Children’s Book Review

Writer and artist Chris van Allsburg began his publishing career in 1979 with the publication of The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, which earned him unprecedented praise and a Caldecott Honor Award, rare for a first-time author and illustrator. Shortly after, Jumanji was published in 1981, followed by Ben's Dream in 1982, The Wreck of the Zephyr in 1983, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick in 1984, and The Polar Express in 1985. Each one was an award winner, with Jumanji and The Polar Express earning him Caldecott Medals, the highest honor a picture book can receive, and placing him among a very small handful of authors who have earned the award twice. 

He followed The Polar Express with the publication of The Stranger in 1986, The Z Was Zapped and Two Bad Ants in 1987 and 1988, Just a Dream, The Wretched Stone, and The Widow’s Broom in the early 1990s, Bad Day at Riverbend  in 1995, Zathura in 2002, Probuditi! in 2006, Queen of the Falls in 2011, and The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie in 2014. He also worked closely with author Mark Helprin to illustrate Swan Lake, A City in Winter and The Veil of Snows. In 1993, van Allsburg was awarded the prestigious Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature.

CONDITION:

Very good condition. First edition, in original dust jacket and boards. White dust jacket with brown titles and a train illustration on the front, brown titles to spine, and illustration to back panel. Very clean jacket, unclipped, with only minimal wrinkling along top and bottom. Maroon hardcover boards with silver embossed snowy bell on front, and silver embossed titles to spine. Boards in great condition. Textured brown-maroon endpapers. Clean pages, with full color illustrations throughout.  With a laid-in bookplate, signed by author/artist Chris van Allsburg. A beautiful copy.

Dimensions: 9 1/4" H x 11 5/8" x 7/16" D

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.