Walt Disney has autographed the book in bold fountain pen ink using his famous block-printed signature... the signature seen at the beginning of every Walt Disney movie, and the one you drive under upon entering Walt Disney World.

Dorothy Bennett was co-creator of the Little Golden Books franchise and an editor at Simon & Schuster. She collaborated with the The Walt Disney Company when they partnered on children's publishing;  together, Disney and Golden Books/Simon & Schuster brought beloved Disney characters into mass-market children's literature.  The printing process used to create low cost children's books was pioneered by Bennet's French colleague Georges Duplaix, which may explain the "French connection" with this book.

Bennett was a fascinating woman. She was an American anthropologist, astronomer, author, and publishing executive.  She served as the first assistant curator of the Hayden Planetarium, delivering over 1,000 lectures and leading a 1937 solar eclipse expedition to Peru. She later transitioned into publishing, to help develop Little Golden Books. Her association with Walt Disney was apparently close, as he personally toured her around the future Disneyland site by jeep, pointing out where specific attractions would be built.

 The book is in near-new condition.  Instead of the standard color photographs, the book features vivid, individually tipped-in (separately attached) color photographic plates showcasing the flora, fauna, and dramatic landscapes of the American Southwest.  This large-format book measures 12" x 9".  Includes the Phil Sears Collectibles Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity Certificate.  Item # 7502, $5495
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