A rare first edition of The Gremlins, the first book world-famous children’s author Roald Dahl had published 77 years ago, has revealed a fascinating secret.
Dahl, famous for Charlie and the Chocolate factory, The BFG, Matilda and The Witches among others, was renowned for his incredible imagination. But a personal note in a copy of The Gremlins given to Dahl’s Second World War RAF comrade Wing Commander John Alexander has revealed a helping hand.
Alexander, a bomber pilot and war hero, was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, met former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, knew the Duke and Duchess of Windsor – and also appears to have provided literary inspiration for the renowned author.
The scarce copy of The Gremlins, discovered by Hansons Auctioneers, contains a playful note from Dahl which reads: ‘To John, who wrote the bloody thing anyway. Roald Dahl, 25/5/43.’
The book, which also contains pencilled corrections by the author, is one of only 50 published as prototypes for Dahl’s personal distribution. Another is believed to have gone to Eleanor Roosevelt. It is set to go to auction with a guide price of £3,500-£4,000.
Mr Alexander’s daughter, Juliet Alexander, 75, a retired teacher from Ontario, Canada, said: “It’s a remarkable story and a rich reminder of the amazing tapestry of life. My mum Joan and her two sisters Mary and Josie grew up in Llandaff in Wales in the early 1920s – the place where Roald Dahl was born.
“Consequently, they often played in the garden with the Dahl sisters. They knew Roald too. How coincidental, then, that later my father and Dahl served together in the RAF during the Second World War.
“After considerable post-war travelling when my father joined the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), our little family of four ultimately moved to Canada in the late 1950s. I think dad was drawn to Canada after two war postings there, one in Montreal as well as Ferry Command in Gander. Dahl and my father were both involved in the World War Two North African Campaign and, during their time together, Gremlins came into being.
“Many years ago, as children, when my father showed my brother and me his signed and marked copy of Gremlins, we were as unimpressed as children can be about these things! Later, however, when I became a teacher myself, often reading Dahl’s stories to my students, our own unique copy of Gremlins held far greater meaning for me.
“As the only living family member left in Canada, and without heirs, my intention is to ensure now that this copy earns the status it deserves, whether it be to an avid collector or a Dahl museum.
“I do know both my father and Dalh were rather cavalier about the whole Gremlins project, especially as Disney did not ultimately make the movie for which the prototype book was originally intended.
“My father had a stellar wartime career as a bomber pilot and was definitely one of those unsung heroes but he rarely spoke about his experiences. I suspect it was all too painful to relate. Photographs and documents, marked ‘Top Secret’, remained so in his possession untouched for 50 years. I now know his DFC was truly well-deserved.
“I have a photo of him taken in Nassau, Bahamas, early in the war with Edward, the Duke of Windsor. Dad was stationed there and apparently was often invited to dinner at Government House with the Duke and his wife, the Duchess of Windsor.
Wing Commander Alexander with (top left), Edward, Duke of Windsor, and right, Sir Winston Churchill.
“I also have a photo of my father with Sir Winston Churchill in Miami, Florida, my father’s first posting with BOAC after the war. I have no recollection as to why Churchill was visiting but it certainly was an auspicious and memorable moment for the Alexander family.
“I intend to donate the proceeds of the sale of the book to the UK’s Roald Dahl Museum and also to contribute to the building of the new War Museum in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. Both of these donations will be in my father’s honour and memory.”
Jim Spencer, head of Hansons’ Library Department, said: “What an amazing find, story and pledge from our vendor. For any Dahl fan, and there are millions worldwide, this book is a remarkable collector’s item. Not only does it take us back to Dahl’s early days as a published author, that personal note provides an insight into the warmth of his character and regard for a wartime friend.
“Both Dahl and Alexander were Second World War RAF pilots who served together, so they would certainly have had time to talk about The Gremlins.
“Most authors draw from their personal experiences and the plot revolves around mischievous gremlins who sabotage British aircraft as revenge of the destruction of their forest home, which was razed to make way for an aircraft factory.”
“The principal character in the book, Gus, has his Hawker Hurricane fighter destroyed over the English Channel by a gremlin, but convinces the gremlins to join forces against a common enemy, Hitler. Eventually, the gremlins are retrained by the RAF to repair rather than sabotage aircraft.
“The book was written for Walt Disney Productions in anticipation of a film being made but this never happened for various reasons.
“As well as the personal note from Dahl, the first edition includes corrections by the author in pencil, including two instances where he has amended ‘Barry’ to ‘Gus’, and an arrow with the word ‘No’ pointing to a colour illustration of a gremlin next to a teapot.”
The Gremlins first edition, lot 26, will be sold in Hansons’ online-only May 21 Library Auction. View the catalogue and bid now at www.hansonslive.co.uk. To arrange a free virtual valuation of books or works on paper, email: [email protected].
To view the lot CLICK HERE.
