Books

First edition, first printing, inscribed on the half-title "To Ann with love from Roald Dahl 9/7/43." Roald Dahl's first book and his only collaboration with Walt Disney, The Gremlins was written as a promotional device for a feature-length Disney animation that was never produced, partly because the studio could not establish firm copyright in the "gremlin" characters (Dahl claimed to have invented them, though they had been common currency in the RAF and had appeared in print at least once before) and partly because the British Air Ministry wanted final approval of the script and production. It was eventually agreed that royalties would be split between the RAF Benevolent Fund and Dahl. The book is still described on the title and the front cover as being "From the Walt Disney Production", although the Disney studio had written to Dahl in August 1943 cancelling any further preproduction work. Quarto. Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in red morocco, spine lettered in gilt, single rule to boards gilt, block to front board gilt with multi-coloured morocco onlay of seven cavorting gremlins with a further onlay of the cavorting gremlins to the back board, twin rule to turn-ins, dark green endpapers, gilt edges. Illustrated throughout in colour and black and white. The occasional minor blemish, an excellent copy finely bound.

The Gremlins is a children's book, written by Roald Dahl and published in 1943. It was Dahl's first children's book and was written for Walt Disney Productions, as a promotional device for a feature-length animated film that was never made. With Dahl's engaging storytelling and charming illustrations, the book introduces the concept of gremlins as mischievous creatures that cause malfunctions in British Royal Air Force aircraft.