I have been in the rare and antiquarian book business for over forty years; my family has been in the rare books business since 1876. Rare books are in my blood.
Christmas 1993 or Santa’s Last Ride
London: Faber and Faber, 1987. Item #06655
A Lavish Signed De Luxe Christmas Fantasy - Leslie Bricusse & Errol Le Cain in Zaehnsdorf Morocco
[LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator]. BRICUSSE, Leslie. Christmas 1993 or Santa’s Last Ride. An absolutely amazing Christmas story by Leslie Bricusse illustrated by Errol Le Cain. London: Faber and Faber, [1987].
De Luxe Edition. Limited to 100 copies, of which this is no. 59, signed by the author and the illustrator.
Folio (12 1/2 x 9 inches; 318 x 229 mm.). 42, [5], [1, blank] pp. Frontispiece and eleven color plates (included in pagination), all cut and mounted and with descriptive tissue guards. Fourteen black and white illustrations in the text.
Publisher’s full tan crushed levant morocco by Zaehnsdorf. Front cover decoratively lettered in gilt, spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt between two raised bands, board edges ruled in gilt, all edges gilt, dark green morocco doublures, tan watered silk liners. Front doublure stamped in gilt with Zaehnsdorf monogram, back doublure stamped in gilt with Zaehnsdorf exhibition stamp.
A fine copy. In the original felt-lined, tan morocco edged, dark green cloth slipcase.
Santa’s Last Ride tells a gently poignant and imaginative Christmas tale: as the year 1993 approaches, Santa contemplates retiring after centuries of service. What follows is a magical journey filled with nostalgia, humor, and quiet reflection, ultimately reaffirming the enduring spirit of Christmas. The story’s emotional core - balancing melancholy with hope - finds a perfect counterpart in Le Cain’s luminous illustrations, making the book one of the more distinctive modern Christmas fantasies.
Leslie Bricusse (1931–2021) was one of the most successful lyricists and composers of the twentieth century, writing for stage and screen with a rare gift for melody and narrative. His work includes such enduring classics as Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Doctor Dolittle, and the Academy Award - winning song “Talk to the Animals.” Alongside his theatrical achievements, Bricusse also wrote a number of imaginative children’s stories, of which Santa’s Last Ride is among the most charming - combining his characteristic warmth, wit, and sense of wonder.
Errol Le Cain (1941–1989) was one of the great illustrators of the late twentieth century, brought an extraordinary visual richness to children’s books, blending influences from Persian miniatures, Art Nouveau, and cinematic design. His illustrations are celebrated for their jewel-like color, intricate detail, and dreamlike atmosphere, and in this work they rank among his most ambitious and evocative.
Price: $1,250.00