Williams, Garth

5 pencil drawings signed ("GW"), being preliminary sketches for George Selden's The Cricket in Times Square, (11 1/8 x 8 1/2 in.; 279 x 216 mm), ?New York, ca. 1959–60; cellotape residue on the left margin on one drawing. With: Selden, George.  The Cricket in Times Square.  New York: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1960.  8vo.  Illustrated by Williams.  Publisher's tan cloth.  Original pictorial dust jacket; spine slightly faded, minimal wear.



                                                                                                                   

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A superb collection of preliminary illustrations for a classic post-war children's book.  Garth Williams (1912–1996) was one of the most important children's book illustrators of the 20th century and remains widely known for his drawings for the books of E. B. White and Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The present illustrations for George Selden include a very fine study of Chester the Cricket, Tucker Mouse and Harry the Cat surveying Times Square.  The final version of this drawing illustrated chapter 4, "Harry the Cat".  The remaining drawings include a study for the illustration for chapter 3, "Chester"; a family picnic in Central Park with Chester leaping into a picnic basket; and a drawing of Mario and his family at their subway newstand.