Nine Books from Raggedy Ann Series, Each Personally Inscribed to Shirley Temple

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Each 9" x 6". Each is written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle, and published by M.A. Donohue. On the inside front cover of each of the nine books is an autograph by Johnny Gruelle to Shirley Temple, dated "Xmas 1937", each with an individual personal inscription that relates to that particular book. The messages include "To Shirley Temple with a magical Raggedy Ann wish that you never get wrinkled knees" (inside cover of Camel with the Wrinkled Knees), and "May your cookie jar never be empty" (inside cover of Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land). The books are in very good condition with light wear at edges. The seven other books are Raggedy Ann Stories, Wooden Willie, Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble, Beloved Belindy, Raggedy Ann's Fairy Stories, Marcella, and Raggedy Ann in the Deep Deep Woods. On January 8, 1938, shortly after sending the autographed and inscribed books to Shirley Temple, Johnny Gruelle died. It is likely that he never received the thank you letter that Shirley sent to him on January 4th of that year saying, "Thank you ever so much for sending me the set of autographed books".