Matilda
Coming-of-Age Children's Fantasy Middle-Grade Fiction Humorous Fiction Collectible First Edition Supernatural Fiction School Story
Roald Dahl’s 1988 first-edition hardcover of Matilda (Jonathan Cape, ISBN 9780224025720) is the cornerstone of any modern children’s fantasy collection. This UK-printed debut predates the massive reprints and movie tie-ins, giving collectors the pure, unaltered 1988 text and Quentin Blake’s original jacket art—both of which were subtly changed in later printings. Because true first/first copies in the original dust jacket are already scarce on the open market, owning one now is a hedge against ever-rising Dahl collectability.
Inside, the story still feels revolutionary: a four-year-old bibliophile overcomes neglectful parents and a tyrannical school principal through intellect, kindness, and a touch of telekinesis. Dahl’s genius is that he wrote a book that reads aloud beautifully to ages 4-8, thrills ages 9-12, yet carries sly social commentary that adults and young adults rediscover with every re-read. The result is a title that stays in demand across generations—perfect for family libraries, classroom read-alouds, or nostalgic gift-giving.
This copy retains every hallmark of the true first printing: unclipped Jonathan Cape jacket, illustrated boards matching the first-issue design, and tight, unread-feeling binding. Condition notes—light foxing to page edges, minor thumbing to a handful of pages, and some marks to the jacket underside—are typical for a 35-year-old children’s book that escaped institutional stamping or juvenile inscription. For collectors, these honest age marks keep the price accessible while still securing the prestige of owning the 1988 first edition, a volume that routinely outperforms modern limited releases at auction.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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