The Secret Garden — Burnett/Rust, Godine 1987

📖 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1987, David R. Godine) — the first U.S. edition of this lavishly illustrated classic, featuring watercolor plates and decorative motifs by muralist Graham Rust. This copy is complete with unclipped dust jacket showing the original $17.95 price.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924), English-American novelist
• Illustrator: Graham Rust (b. 1942), muralist and botanical painter
• Publisher: David R. Godine, Publisher, Inc., Boston
• Year: 1987 (First U.S. Edition; conceived and produced in Great Britain by Breslich & Foss, London)
• Format: Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket
• Pages: 224 | ISBN: 0-87921-649-3
• Condition: Book: Very Good / Jacket: Very Good — full report below

THE STORY

First published in 1911, The Secret Garden follows orphaned Mary Lennox as she is sent from British India to her uncle’s Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors. There she discovers a locked, neglected garden — and through its gradual restoration, both the garden and Mary herself are transformed. Along the way she befriends the local robin, a Yorkshire boy named Dickon, and her bedridden cousin Colin. Burnett’s tale of renewal through nature has remained one of the most beloved children’s novels in the English language for over a century.

THIS EDITION

This is the first U.S. edition, published by David R. Godine in 1987. The book was conceived and produced in Great Britain by Breslich & Foss of London and designed by Roger Daniels. Godine — a Boston publisher known for fine press editions and literary works — gave the text a generous format with high-quality paper and full-color reproductions of Rust’s artwork. At 224 pages, this is a complete, unabridged text.

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

Graham Rust’s illustrations draw on his background as a muralist — his monumental “The Temptation” at Ragley Hall remains the largest mural painted in a private house in the 20th century. For The Secret Garden, Rust brought the same eye for botanical detail to the printed page. The dust jacket front features Mary Lennox at the ivy-covered garden door, key in hand, robin perched nearby — a richly layered watercolor in greens and earthy tones. The dark green spine carries a small robin vignette above the “DRG GODINE” imprint. The bare boards beneath are wrapped in dark green paper with a repeating white lattice pattern filled with tiny botanical drawings: flowers, fruits, insects, gardening tools, keys, and birds. The endpapers continue this motif in black and white — a grid of nature illustrations that echoes the garden theme throughout. The title page is framed by an elaborate botanical border with roses, daisies, a robin, butterfly, snail, and lizard woven among the vines. Interior illustrations include full-color watercolor plates and in-text line drawings depicting the Yorkshire moors, Misselthwaite Manor, and the garden’s transformation.

WHY IT MATTERS

• The Secret Garden has never been out of print since 1911 and has been adapted into multiple films, television series, and stage productions
• Graham Rust’s Godine edition is considered the definitive illustrated version — Rust went on to paint murals across Britain, Europe, America, and the Middle East
• David R. Godine’s publishing program is known for elevating children’s literature with fine production values; this edition exemplifies that approach

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? First U.S. Edition, published 1987 by David R. Godine, Publisher, Inc., Boston. Breslich & Foss, London. Designed by Roger Daniels.

What condition is it in? Very Good / Very Good. Dark green boards with white lattice pattern, spine and corners lightly rubbed. Dust jacket unclipped at $17.95, minor edge rubbing, no tears. Clean pages with ink gift inscription on front pastedown. Binding tight and square.

Is this a complete text? Yes — 224 pages, unabridged, complete with all chapters from “There Is No One Left” through “In the Garden.”

FOR COLLECTORS

The Godine/Rust Secret Garden occupies a specific niche: it is the most lavishly illustrated single-volume edition of the novel, produced at a time when Godine was publishing fine illustrated editions of literary classics. Graham Rust’s botanical sensibility — informed by his mural work — gives the illustrations a richness that distinguishes this edition from earlier illustrated versions. This is his first book publication.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Book: Very Good (VG) / Jacket: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Dark green paper wrapped boards featuring a white lattice pattern remain sturdy and clear. Board corners and spine edges are rubbed from shelving.

Dust Jacket: Unclipped jacket retaining original $17.95 price. Shows minor edge rubbing and faint surface shelf wear. Colors remain clear and unfaded all around, no tears or marks.

Text Block & Pages: Pages are clean and off-white. A neat ink gift inscription is present on the front pastedown. Full-color plates and interior line drawings are bright and crisp.

Binding: Square and tight, solid hinges, closes tightly.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

HFB-SEO-v1: 2026-07-27

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