{HISTORY}

The summer day was hot and still…

… and so begins the first sentence of the first chapter of Mary Poppins In The Park, the fourth book in the Mary Poppins series that was released across 50 years of the 20th  century. 

Delighting kids and adults since she first appeared on the page in 1934, Mary Poppins, the magical nanny known the world over, was written by Pamela Lyndon Travers, the pen name of Australian-British author and actress, Helen Lyndon Goff (1899-1996). 

Drawing upon story sketches she created for her siblings as well as events from her own unusual childhood growing up in Australia, Pamela wrote a total of eight Mary Poppins books throughout her career all centered around the Banks family and stories rooted in myths and fables.  

When the Walt Disney movie, Mary Poppins was released in 1964, it introduced a whole new world to the umbrella floating Mary and her magical carpet bag of oddities and interests. Pamela disliked the movie and the portrayal of her characters immensely, stating that Mary Poppins was portrayed as too sentimental and she thought the cartoon segments were out of place.

EventuallyPamela cane to terms with the idea that readers and film enthusiasts loved both versions, and that what mattered really in the end was that she had created a beloved character of page and screen. One that firmly branded Mary Poppins an icon of 20th century pop culture and literary fame. 

From the very first book forward, British artist Mary Shepard (1909-2000) illustrated the entire Mary Poppins series. No stranger to the literary world, Mary’s father was E.H. Shepard, who illustrated Winnie the Pooh and all the Wind in the Willows books. Often described as a tricky relationship between author and artist, Pamela was very certain on how she wanted Mary Poppins to be portrayed visually and it took some time and many revisions before Pamela was satisfied with Mary’s work. 

This edition featuring a bright pink dust jacket and the lovely portrait of Mary Poppins on the front is the first American edition published in New York in 1952 by Harcourt, Brace and Company. In gorgeous vintage condition with an entirely intact dust jacket, decorated coverboards and end papers and illustrated throughout, it’s a lovely homage to Mary’s talent as an illustrator just as much as Pamela’s talent as a writer.

Full of whimsy in art and verse, Mary visually portrays the whimsical Banks family neighborhood and the array of characters in the story while Pamela  beautifully blends lyricism and humor with lines like … No goldfish flirted a scarlet tail… and…. Mary Poppins sauntered along enjoying the balmy air, and assuring herself that the balmy air was enjoying Mary Poppins. 

Oh Mary Poppins. She’s been such a character and a comfort for readers of all ages. 

Photo of Pamela Lyndon Travers courtesy of the Library of New South Wakes circa 1922. Photo of Mary Shepard in hat courtesy of the Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1952 First American Edition by Harcourt, Brace and Company 
• 235 pages
• Includes original dust jacket and decorated coverboards
• Illustrated throughout

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. This book is clean and bright throughout. The dust jacket is entirely intact. It contains a 1 “ inch paper scuff mark on the top left corner on the front near the spine, a slightly chippy area along the top edge of the jacket at the spine, and a small price clipping on the top corner of the interior dust jacket flap.

There is some light foxing on the front and back of the blue coverboards. The corners of this book are perfectly intact (not bumped), the spine is tight, and all pages are intact. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 7.5" inches (length) x 5.25” inches (width) x .75" inches (thickness) and weighs 12 oz.