Jock the Bow-Wow by Louis Wain first edition 1919

WAIN, Louis. Jock, The Bow-Wow. Dundee, London and Montreal: Valentine & Sons Ltd., 1919.
 
First edition. Die-cut shaped book, approximately 300 x 150 mm, cut to the outline of the Scottie dog Jock. Illustrated throughout in black and red, with full-colour pictorial covers designed by Louis Wain.
 
Very Good. Some creasing and wear to the projecting extremities, particularly the upper ear and lower right edge, with a few short surface cracks and small chips. The central gathering has pulled loose from the staples with a short tear to the right hand edge, but all present. Otherwise unusually clean, bright and complete for such a fragile shaped book, with no repairs.
 
One of Valentine's "Book Toys", with the story narrated by Jock himself and illustrated throughout by Louis Wain. The striking die-cut format uses the outline of the dog as the shape of the entire book, with Jock shown in tartan cap and bow to the covers and in a series of illustrations. A notably scarce Louis Wain publication. Only Oxford University hold a copy and the title is seldom encountered in commerce. An attractive example of a fragile book.