Pinocchio
New Jersey: The Unicorn Publishing House, 1986. Illustrations by Greg Hildebrandt.
A lushly produced edition of the Italian classic, reimagined through the lens of 1980s fantasy realism. Bound in the publisher's decorative red boards with extensive gilt stamping and a pictorial onlay, it presents Collodi's moral fable with a level of visual intensity usually reserved for high fantasy.
KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with Greg Hildebrandt's signature style—dramatic lighting, emotive character work, and rich color palettes—including full-page color plates and black-and-white line drawings.
+++ Binding: Publisher's original red leatherette-style textured boards with gilt tree-branch motifs and a pictorial paste-down on the front cover.
+++ Associated Names: Signed by Greg Hildebrandt in facsimile (Note:the signature at the end of the Illustrator's Note is a printed ).
CONDITION: Near Fine -- A sharp, attractive copy. The binding is tight and square with bright gilt. No flaws to the covers. The interior is clean. There is some light, scattered spotting (foxing) restricted to the front edge of the text block.
+++ Imprint: The Unicorn Publishing House, 1986.
+++ Specs: 10.25 inches tall / 179 pages.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Greg Hildebrandt, along with his brother Tim, defined the visual language of 1970s and 80s fantasy, most famously through their J.R.R. Tolkien calendars and the original 'Star Wars' poster. By 1986, Greg Hildebrandt was applying this hyper-realistic, glowing style to children's classics. His interpretation of Pinocchio moves away from the cartoonish Disney aesthetic, returning to a more European, slightly darker, and more atmospheric tone that aligns with the Brothers Hildebrandt's fantasy roots.
This edition by Unicorn Publishing House is typical of the era's 'Gift Book' boom—high production values, heavy paper, and elaborate bindings designed to be kept as heirlooms. For collectors of Hildebrandt's work, this volume represents a crossover moment where his mastery of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) was applied to a domestic fairy tale rather than an epic saga.
Subjects: Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi, Greg Hildebrandt, Illustrated Editions, Fairy Tales, Moral Stories, Collectible Books, Children’s Literature, Illustrated Books, Fantasy, Art.
Item #20985
ISBN: 0881010588
Price: $24.00
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