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Edward McCandlish — Daddy Turtle and the Well-Sweep
New York: Stoll & Edwards Co., Inc., 1926
First Edition — Bookmites for Children Miniature Book
Original Color Pictorial Wrapper Preserved in a Later Cloth Binding and Custom Folding Case
A scarce miniature children’s book written and illustrated by Edward G. McCandlish and published by Stoll & Edwards in 1926 as part of the charming eight-volume Bookmites for Children series.
Daddy Turtle and the Well-Sweep follows Daddy Turtle, Ma Turtle, and the young turtles of Clover Field in a short, humorously illustrated animal story. McCandlish’s brightly colored anthropomorphic characters have the playful energy associated with American children’s books of the 1920s.
This copy has been specially preserved in a later blue cloth binding, with its original color pictorial front wrapper mounted to the upper board. The book is housed in a matching custom-made blue cloth folding case or portfolio lined with decorative patterned paper.
The Bookmites for Children Series
Daddy Turtle and the Well-Sweep was originally one of eight miniature animal books issued together by Stoll & Edwards in a tiny pictorial box.
The complete series comprised:
Brother Black Bear Gets in Trouble
Daddy Rabbit Reaches His Limits
Daddy Turtle and the Well-Sweep
The Froggies’ Diving School
Little Miss Ducky-Daddles
Mr. Fox Gets His Feet Wet
Mister Possum Gets a Scare
Pinky-Winky Meets a Stranger
The original books were issued as extremely small, center-stapled booklets in color pictorial wrappers. Specialist descriptions give their dimensions as approximately 2⅞ × 2¼ inches and describe them as containing twelve pages including the wrappers.
Complete boxed sets are rarely encountered. A specialist children’s-book dealer has noted only four complete sets represented in OCLC/WorldCat library records.
This offering is for the single title Daddy Turtle and the Well-Sweep, not the complete eight-volume set.
Edward McCandlish
Edward G. McCandlish, 1887–1946, was an American illustrator, cartoonist, children’s-book author, toy designer, pictorial mapmaker, and muralist.
After serving as an Army painter and camouflage artist during World War I, he worked in commercial and juvenile illustration. He is particularly remembered for his anthropomorphic animal books, Bunny Tots stories, miniature Bookmites, pictorial maps, and nursery-rhyme murals.
His illustrations combine simple storytelling, expressive cartoon figures, and vivid color especially suited to very young readers.
Illustrations
The miniature book is illustrated throughout with McCandlish’s color drawings of Daddy Turtle, Ma Turtle, and the turtle children.
The decorated title page includes small black-and-white animal figures, while the story incorporates color illustrations in McCandlish’s distinctive early twentieth-century cartoon style.
The copyright statement reads:
“Copyright, 1926, by Stoll & Edwards Co. Inc., New York, N.Y. — Printed in U.S.A.”
Custom Binding and Case
The booklet is now housed in a later blue cloth binding. Its original pictorial front wrapper, showing Daddy Turtle at the well-sweep, has been preserved and mounted onto the front board.
The book is accompanied by a matching blue cloth folding case or portfolio with decorative paper lining.
Neither the cloth binding nor the case appears to be part of the original publisher’s issue. Both are conservatively described as later custom additions. No binder’s signature has been located.
Although the later binding alters the booklet’s original stapled-wrapper format, it provides protection for this fragile miniature book and gives it considerable display appeal.
Bibliographical Details
Author and illustrator: Edward G. McCandlish
Title: Daddy Turtle and the Well-Sweep
Series: Bookmites for Children
Publisher: Stoll & Edwards Co., Inc.
Place: New York
Date: 1926
Edition: First edition
Original format: Miniature stapled booklet in color pictorial wrappers
Present binding: Later blue cloth with original front wrapper mounted to the board
Case: Custom blue cloth folding case with decorative paper lining
Printing: Printed in the United States
Condition
Good antique condition, with evidence of handling and use.
The original miniature pages show age toning, light soiling, scattered small stains, creasing, and wear along the corners and edges. Some pages have surface marks consistent with a children’s book that was read and handled.
There is wear along the hinge and gutter areas, with binding material exposed in places. The book nevertheless remains intact.
The original pictorial front wrapper, now mounted to the blue cloth board, has rubbing, scuffing, toning, and general surface wear but remains colorful, legible, and visually appealing.
The later blue cloth binding and matching custom case show rubbing, fading, mild soiling, and edge wear. The folding case remains functional and continues to protect and present the book effectively.
The volume is a single title from the eight-volume Bookmites for Children set. The other seven books and the original publisher’s miniature box are not present.
Please examine all photographs carefully. They show the book’s miniature scale, original wrapper, internal condition, later binding, and custom case and form an important part of the description.
A charming and scarce survival from Edward McCandlish’s 1926 Bookmites for Children series, unusually preserved in a custom cloth binding and fitted case. Of particular interest to collectors of miniature books, vintage children’s illustration, anthropomorphic animal stories, and early twentieth-century American juvenile publishing.
