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[DISNEY, Walt]
Walt Disney's version of Pinocchio Based on the famous story by Collodi.
One of 100 copies only of the original American edition, this copy a presentation to William ("Tex") Henson on the occasion of his 20th birthday in 1944, shortly after he joined Disney as an assistant animator. The front pastedown has the gift inscription "Best wishes to Bill Henson from [William S. Henson] June 1944 [20 Birthday]", the words in square brackets being added in another hand, presumably the recipient's, the first over an erasure. The front free endpaper is inscribed "Bill Henson, Walt Disney Productions 1944" in the presenter's hand; the limitation notice is further inscribed by fellow animators Fred Kopletz and George Owen. Henson worked on Disney's first post-war feature, Song of the South, and made a name for himself campaigning for the animated chipmunk duo, Chip 'n' Dale, to become regulars in the Disney repertory. He later moved to Mexico, supervising the studio of the animator Jay Ward, their best-known creation being the bulbous-nosed, dim-witted Bullwinkle the Moose.
Large quarto. Original spiral bound cloth boards, label printed in red to front cover. Facsimile typescript and storyboard, printed on one side of the leaf. Despite being a ludicrously flimsy piece of book construction (presumably in whimsical imitation of inhouse Disney ring-bound project books), this copy has survived in outstanding condition.
