Books

New York: Viking Kestrel, 1988. First American Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. Advance reading copy of the first American edition and uncommon in this format. Bound in publisher's original yellow wraps printed in black. Near Fine with light soiling, light wear and light toning to wraps, several stray ink marks to the textblock edge. Contents toned. The beloved young adult novel that inspired a film adaptation in 1996, illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Matilda is a children's novel by British writer Roald Dahl. It was first published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape in London, with 232 pages and illustrations by Quentin Blake. The story is about a young prodigy named Matilda Wormwood, who loves reading books and has the power of telekinesis. She faces challenges from her neglectful parents and the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, and seeks solace in books and her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Honey.

To verify if a copy of 'Matilda' is a first edition, one should check the publication date, publisher (Jonathan Cape), and look for the presence of Quentin Blake's illustrations specific to the first edition. Additionally, later editions typically mention subsequent printings or editions.