It’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! While we are all excited for return of the beloved nanny of all time as Mary Poppins is coming back to cinemas this Christmas, now we get a chance to indulge ourselves in an equally magical and enchanted world of Mary Poppins on paper. Three of the first edition books of Mary Poppins is now up for auction at Sotheby’s online sale.
Mary Poppins Returns will come into theaters on 19 December
The first edition of the first Mary Poppins. 1934
British writer P.L. Travers published eight original Mary Poppins books between 1934 and 1988. The first three books see the enchanted nanny arrive and leave the Banks family home while the following five books form a sort of anthology of stories from her previous visits.
The first edition of the first Mary Poppins. 1934
The first edition of the first Mary Poppins. 1934
The first Mary Poppins book was published thirty years before the Walt Disney film, eighty four years before the film sequel. It introduces the Banks family and their encounter with Mary Poppins, who arrives at their home with her travelling carpet bag. She takes the job as the children’s nanny and agrees to stay till the wind changes.
Mary Poppins with her travelling carpet bag in Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins is carried away by the West wind as she opens her umbrella
Mary Poppins is no ordinary nanny. The children soon learn that their nanny has a magical touch. In just a snap, she turns “every task you undertake" into "a piece of cake”. They have a tea party on a ceiling, a trip around the world and a birthday party at the zoo. In the end of the first story, Mary Poppins opens her umbrella and the West wind carries her away. It becomes the most iconic image associated with Mary Poppins.
The first edition of Mary Poppins Comes Back. Inscribed to Mrs Henry Moriss. 1935
The first edition of Mary Poppins Comes Back. Inscribed to Mrs Henry Moriss. 1935
The first edition of Mary Poppins Comes Back. Inscribed to Mrs Henry Moriss. 1935
Mary Poppins makes her return in the book Mary Poppins Come Back published in 1935. Nothing has been right since Mary Poppins left the Banks family. One day, when the children fly a kite up into the clouds, Mary Poppins is pulled down from the clouds at the end of a kite string.
For those who are interested to get their hands on the first edition copies of the fasincating story of Mary Poppins, Sotheby’s are now offering them in an online sale. The first Mary Poppins book from 1934 is expected to fetch £2,000-2,500.
The first edition of Mary Poppins Comes Back. Inscribed to Freeman Lewis. 1935
The first edition of Mary Poppins Comes Back. Inscribed to Freeman Lewis. 1935
The first edition of Mary Poppins Comes Back. Inscribed to Freeman Lewis. 1935
Two different first edition copies of Mary Poppins Comes Back offered at the sale carry inscription by P.L. Travers. The author rarely inscribed her books and ABPC records only three inscribed copies of this title sold at auction between 1989 and 2013. They are estimated at £1,500-2,000 and £2,600-3,000 respectively.
Three Mary Poppins first edition books offered at Sotheby's online sale
Travers, P.L. First Edition of the First Mary Poppins. Gerald Howe Ltd, 1934
Lot no.: 265
Estimate: £2,000-2,500
Travers, P.L. Mary Poppins Comes Back. 1935.
Lot no.: 266
Inscribed by the author “To Mrs Henry Moriss”
Estimate: £2,600-3,000
Travers, P.L. Mary Poppins Comes Back. 1935
Lot no.: 267
Inscribed by the author “To Mr Freeman Lewis”
Estimate: £1,500-2,000
Auction details
Auction house: Sotheby’s Online
Sale: English Literature, History Science, Children’s Books and Illustrations Online
Bidding closes: 10 December 2018｜10pm (HKT)
Lots offered: 261