London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1950. Finn Family Moomintroll was Tove Jansson’s first book to be translated and published in English and introduce her work and the wonderful Moomintrolls characters to English readers. Jansson was thoughtful in her packaging to her new audience and added a sweet and decorative fold-out letter, with a map of reverse of Moomin Valley, “to the English child” signed by Moominmamma, explaining who the Moomintrolls are. A nice copy of a scarce and prized book; and an important publication in the history of children’s literature. The dust jacket includes a craft activity on back flap.

First edition in English. Hardcover, 170. Green cloth, with an illustration of a Moomintroll in the bottom right corner of the cover. The edges show very slight wear, and the binding comes slightly apart from the spine on the top, but is holding tightly together. Lightly spotted on book edges and on end papers. Overall in very good condition. Dust jacket has been repaired at the spine and has a 2 cm chip filled in at the top edge of the cover. Slight scuffing on the fold between the covers and the flaps. Light staining on the back cover, but overall very bright and in good condition.