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Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten (RARE, First American Edition), 1929 🌿🦌🌳

Name: Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten (RARE, First American Edition), 1929 🌿🦌🌳
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 850.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$850.00

Sale Sold out

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a cornerstone work of 20th-century literature and a famous cultural touchstone. The book, Bambi: A Life in the Woods, is an existential allegory for adults, exploring profound themes of persecution and survival through the life of a roe deer.

As a rare first American edition from 1929, this volume is a highly sought-after artifact for collectors of modern literature and historical works. It offers a unique window into the creative genius of an author whose work was famously banned and destroyed by the Nazi regime.

Its documented rarity and historical significance make this a premier acquisition for any serious library. The book is not merely a children's story; it is a monument to the resilience of a life lived in the shadow of fear and a record of a pivotal period in European history. This volume is an extraordinary find, representing a critical moment in the history of literary art.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Bambi: A Life in the Woods is a masterpiece of early 20th-century literature. The story follows a male roe deer from birth to maturity, exploring a world of breathtaking beauty and brutal danger. The narrative is a poignant and often brutal look at the cycle of life, loss, and the ever-present threat of human hunters.

The book's contents include beautiful illustrations by Kurt Wiese, which add a rich visual dimension to the narrative.

The book is an existential allegory for adults, exploring profound themes of persecution and survival. It is widely considered to be a cultural touchstone, capturing the ideals of an author whose work was famously banned and destroyed by the Nazi regime.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Felix Salten (1869-1945) was an Austrian author and literary critic. Born in Budapest, he moved to Vienna at a young age and became a central figure in the city's vibrant literary scene. His work is celebrated for its poetic prose and deep philosophical themes. He was a master of his craft, and his work is a serious examination of the human experience. Salten's legacy is rooted in his remarkable achievement and his gift for storytelling.

Salten was a passionate advocate for the Zionist movement, inspired by Theodor Herzl, and a vocal critic of the antisemitism he experienced in Vienna. The illustrations in this volume by Kurt Wiese add a rich visual dimension to the narrative.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1929, this book is an artifact of the interwar period in Europe and America. It was a time of immense political and social upheaval, as the world was grappling with the rise of fascism and the growing tensions over war. The book's publication reflects a widespread desire for stories that celebrated the complexities of the human experience. It was also published just before the stock market crash that would usher in the Great Depression.

The book is a "time capsule" of late 1920s intellectual thought. It captures the spirit of an era when individual expression and personal narratives were highly valued. The book is a monument to the resilience of a life lived in the shadow of fear and a record of a pivotal period in European history.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of classic children's literature, a scholar of Austrian literature, or a private collector of modern first editions.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare first American edition from 1929, this book represents a genuinely scarce, non-replicable asset class. First editions of modern literary classics are highly sought after by collectors.

The price is a direct reflection of the book's rarity, its historical significance, and its condition for an item of its age.

This volume offers a unique opportunity to build a personal library with an item of true academic and historical significance.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is a handsome survivor from the late 1920s, showing honest and authentic wear consistent with its age.

The original cloth hardcover is in solid state, with a tight and sound binding.
The covers show some expected rubbing and scuffing, particularly along the edges and on the spine.
The pages have some expected toning and light discoloration throughout, a natural process for paper, which gives it authenticity.
The book's dust jacket is "edge worn" and "chipped," which is to be expected for an item of this age. Its presence on the book is a significant factor in its value, and its condition is a powerful indicator of the high regard in which it was held by its previous custodians.

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book contains a personal inscription on a front endpaper, which provides a rich history of its ownership and journey. The inscription is written in a clear hand and reads:

"Auntie Dorsil / Uncle Burke"

A date, "Xmas 1927", is also included in the inscription. This inscription is a personal gift note, and its date of 1927 contrasts with the book's publication year of 1929.

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

Bambi: A Life in the Woods was famously banned and destroyed by the Nazis in Germany in 1936, who saw it as a political allegory for the persecution of Jews in Europe.
Felix Salten, the author, was an avid hunter, which makes the book's anti-hunting themes particularly poignant.
The American translation was handled by Whittaker Chambers, who was an editor for Simon & Schuster at the time. His translation was published in 1928, which contrasts with the 1929 publication year on the title page.
The film rights to Bambi were sold to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1933 for only $1,000, and later transferred to Walt Disney.