Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life is the rare first edition first state deluxe edition signed by two of “Disney’s Nine Old Men”, and the authors to this stunning Disney book, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. This collectable Disney book has the original dust jacket and pictorial slipcase, and is the first edition first state published by Abbeville Press in New York in 1981. The affixed bookplate has been signed by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston as issued and reads:

“This Special Edition of

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life

by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

is signed by the authors and contains

a foot of original film

from a classic Disney feature”

This first published 1981 edition by Abbeville Press used better quality paper, and thus had a higher image quality, than the later 1988 edition and the revised 1995 edition by Hyperion that bears the inverted title of “The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation”.

The front flap of the dust jacket reads (in part):

“489 plates in full color

Thousands of black and white illustrations”

The Copyright Page confirms the date of publication date and states:

“This book is dedicated to

Walt Disney

and the staff of artists

who brought the magical quality of life

to character animation”

This is a highly rare and collectable first state deluxe signed edition of Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.

Condition of the Original Slip Case:

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life slipcase is in Near Fine condition with wear to the extremities of the applied colour illustration label. This is a highly attractive slipcase with cut-out design to show off the dust jacket that adds to the design of the slipcase, as issued.

Condition of the Dust Jacket:

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life is in Fine condition

Condition of the Binding:

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life original red cloth binding features to the front board a gilt illustration of Geppetto and Pinocchio, and gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is in Fine/Mint condition.

Condition of the Pages:

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life 575 numbered pages are in Fine/Mint condition