The First Adventures Of Woolie Winkle With Sintho The Giant
By Noel Peel
Published by Murfett Pty Ltd: Melbourne c1945
Early & Scarce Australian Childrens Publication In Original Pictorial Covers
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The First Adventures of Woolie Winkle with Sintho the Giant is a charming and now scarce Australian children's picture book by Noel Peel, published in Melbourne by Murfett Pty Ltd during the mid-1940s. Although undated, bibliographical records attribute the book to 1945, while some booksellers date it circa 1946. Contemporary catalogue records identify it as a first edition. The title page confirms that the volume was printed in Australia by Queen City Printers Pty Ltd, Melbourne, for Murfett Pty Ltd of 118 Queen Street, Melbourne.
The story introduces Woolie Winkle, a little Australian lamb who tells young readers that he is one of the country's enormous population of sheep and proudly describes himself as part of Australia's heritage. His adventures bring him into the company of Sintho the Giant, with the unlikely pair embarking upon a gentle fantasy adventure involving Sintho's castle, the surrounding countryside and a perilous journey through a mountain storm. Woolie's woolly coat ultimately proves rather more useful than the giant's size, giving the tale the appealing combination of adventure, humour and simple moral storytelling characteristic of Australian children's publishing of the period.
Particularly attractive are the book's extensive full-page and double-page colour illustrations, rendered in soft pastel tones and retaining a distinctly 1940s appearance. The original pictorial boards, red cloth spine and boldly lettered cover make it an especially appealing example of Australian juvenile publishing from the immediate post-war era. Surviving copies appear relatively uncommon: bibliographical catalogue material specifically records the title as a first edition and dates it through Muir to 1945, while another Australian specialist bookseller currently records a circa-1946 example. An appealing and increasingly difficult-to-find piece of early Australian children's literature and Australiana, particularly desirable in its original pictorial binding."
Light wear with some staining/fading etc to original covers as shown. Contemporary inscription present. Binding is excellent with no loose pages. A nice copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
