[Sendak, Maurice, illustrator] Krauss, Ruth.

A Hole Is To Dig. A First Book of First Definitions [with] Kenny's Window.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1952. First edition, first issue. Two inscribed copies of Maurice Sendak's works, one "A Hole is To Dig", illustrated with photos of the dedicatee and Sendak dancing. With 'Grr-r-r" on p. 23, in a price clipped dust jacket. The other "Kenny's Window", first edition, first issue, both charmingly illustrated and inscribed by Sendak to June Shagaloff.

"A Hole is To Dig" is illustrated by 2 miniature photographs, one a portrait of June and one of Sendak & June dancing. In a riff on the book's format, the back free endpaper is titled in red "A June-bug is to love". Above the photo of June & Maurice dancing, Sendak has drawn a small caption "End Lunch Counter Discrimination", a reference to June's activism with the NAACP. At the inside margin, Sendak has drawn a small girl, along with "Goodby Grr-r-r", and name "from Sassie Petellin 1960". At the time of the inscription, Sendak was dating June's sister, Bunny Shagaloff.

June Shagaloff Alexander is a community activist. In 1950, she joined the NAACP Legal Department, later the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, headed by Thurgood Marshall, who would later become a Justice on the United States Supreme Court. She helped develop the social research which was critical in "Brown vs. the Board of Education" and worked to end discrimination in the United States. She retired from the NAACP in 1972. (Wikipedia).

5 3/8 x 6 3/4" [48pp]. Green pictorial papered boards, black cloth spine, very good condition. The dust jacket is a little foxed , dusty & rubbed at edges.

[WITH]

"Kenny's Window". New York: Harper & Brothers, 1956. First edition, first issue. First book written and illustrated by Sendak, very scarce, this copy in a rare dust jacket, priced at $2.00. Copy inscribed to June Shagaloff, friend of Sendak's in the 1950s and the sister of Bunny Shagaloff, Sendak's female love interest. Bunny was invited to meet Sendak's parents, buying a yellow spring coat for the dinner.

Inscribed on the front free endpaper "For June on her birthday - with much affection, Maurice", with a drawing of a boy holding a birthday cake. June Shagaloff Alexander is a community activist. In 1950, she joined the NAACP Legal Department, later the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, headed by Thurgood Marshall, who would later become a Justice on the United States Supreme Court. She helped develop the social research which was critical in "Brown vs. the Board of Education" and worked to end discrimination in the United States. She retired from the NAACP in 1972. (Wikipedia).

8vo, [62pp], original pictorial tan cloth, title in black, tan buckram spine (a little etched on front upper spine panel), slightly bowed. Dust jacket tanned, with a large portion of the spine lacking but front and back panel largely intact. Endpapers a little foxed.

Intriguing association copies- before Sendak clarified his sexual orientation. Item #17944

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