This book is meant for people who want to know just enough about the stars to be able to go out at night and find the major constellations, for the mere pleasure of it... H.A. Rey, 1952

{HISTORY}

When H.A. and Margaret were escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s, they never suspected that the manuscript they carried would make them beloved icons of the 20th century book world.

Lovers of children's books, contemporary and vintage will be familiar with the work of German-American author and illustrator H.A. Rey (1898-1977) and his wife, Margaret. The pen name of Hans Augusto Reyersbach, H.A. wrote two of the most beloved and imaginative books of the 20th century.  Along with Margaret, this husband and wife team introduced the world to Curious George in 1941 and went on to illustrate many more adventures for what became a series of books featuring George and all his curiosities.

In 1952, H.A. published another marvel of a book, this time not to do with monkeys but to to do with the night sky and all the stars and constellations that sparkled and shimmered in tandem with the moon.

Interested in making easily identifiable shapes out of constellations so that they would be easy to spot in the sky for any novice, H.A. went about re-designing and simplifying how we look at the connecting points that form constellations.  An ingenious idea that quickly gained world-wide attention, HA. 's book The Stars: A New Way to See Them, became the joy of 1950s star-gazers everywhere. Initially intended for teenagers,  it was also quickly adopted by parents, teachers, book critics, and astronomy enthusiasts the world over. 

To highlight the year-round opportunities star-gazing provides, H.A. also incorporated a wall-size chart of the night sky on the inside of the folded dust jacket, which could be tacked up on on a wall or framed for quick reference. Again, what was originally intended for beginner star-seekers quickly became wall decor for schools, science labs, bedrooms, family rooms, astronomy buildings and nature centers. 

Packed with charts, diagrams and lots of interesting information about the best ways to see and understand the stars as the sky changes throughout the year, The Stars remains one of the best practical-use astronomy books ever written. Reprinted over 40 times since its debut, this is the 1956 edition, the fourth printing, which includes the original fold out dust jacket star chart. 

With the initial notes, drawings and story manuscript for Curious George in their possession as they escaped Nazi Germany, H.A. and Margaret created a whole new life for themselves in New York City and then Cambridge, Massachusetts. Incidentally, they also created a whole new world for millions of star-lovers too by illustrating how connected we all are to one another and to nature when observing stars in the sky.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1956 Edition, 4th printing
• 144 pages 
• Includes convertible dust jacket/fold out map of the sky
• Illustrated throughout
• Decorated coverboards

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, the dust jacket/map is all in one piece but does contain some small tears along the edge and one one small split down the center fold line. If you decided to frame this map (which we would recommend) the split in the fold line will come back together when pressed flat, and the chips along the edges will add a lovely aged look to the whole affair. The map is very crisp and bright in color palette and the paper is thick and strong. The book itself is in wonderful vintage shape with no interior spots, stains, or notations. The corners are not bumped, the illustrations are very bright and the coverboards are very clean. The spine is tight and all pages are intact. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 11.25" inches (length) x 8.5" inches (width) x .5" inches (thickness) and weighs 1.10 lbs. The foldout star chart measures 26" (length) x 22.5" inches (width)