Book 1: Binding bright and clean with only very minor fading to the head and tail of the spine (where the dustwrapper is chipped) and occasional light foxing, else a very good, tight, clean copy in very good, nicked, chipped and rubbed, price-clipped, unrestored dustwrapper which has neat archive tape repairs to the reverse of the spine and front panel and minor foxing. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact. First edition copies of this wrappered edition are scarce in their own right. Armada was sold in 1966 and eventually ended up in the hands of the publishers Collins, who were the publishers of the first hardback edition of 'A Bear Called Paddington' in 1958 and retained the publishing rights. Created by Gordon Landsborough, Armada Books focused exclusively on books for children to buy with their pocket money. 'Armada Books' was a British publishing imprint used to publish paperback titles from 1962 until 1995. The first title in the acclaimed 'Paddington Bear' series and illustrated throughout in B/W by Peggy Fortnum. Michael Bond often deliberately misspelt Paddington's name when signing such Paddington postcards! A slight line of creasing and mild toning to the upper card. Below Padington's name Michael Bond has doodled Paddington's paw print as Paddington's signature! Michael Bond has signed his name below this in a different ink. Loosely inserted is a Paddington Bear postcard which the author has also inscribed : ' Fir Biddy, will all good wishes, Padington'. The book has been inscribed and signed by the author to the verso of the front cover : ' For Biddy, with all good wishes, Michael Bond'.

This copy is exceptionally well preserved and appears unread with no creasing to the spine and no fading of colouring to the spine (The book has apparently been protected in brown paper and put away since it was signed by the author near publication date). Some very light spotting to the upper text-block. Some toning to the text-block and page edges due to the quality of the paper stock used.

Some light spotting to the inside edges of the covers. The First UK Printing of the wrappered edition published by Armada Lions, London in 1971.

Michael bond a bear called paddington