Captain Pugwash and the Huge Reward: A Tale of Smuggling in the Ancient Town of Sinkport (Signed, with Cartoon by Author)

First edition, first impression. 44pp, with line drawings throughout.  Signed by the author, John Ryan, on the half-title page, where he has added above his signature a small head and shoulders doodle of Captain Pugwash.  In blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles on spine.  8vo.  Cloth very gently rolled at spine ends, else neat, clean, bright and tight throughout.  In its original illustrated glossy dust jacket, very slightly bumped on extreme edges.  Dust jacket now protected in an archival-quality Mylar wrapper fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.

The Captain Pugwash books are a series of children’s stories but filled with risqué adult wit. The stories are about Captain Pugwash, a somewhat bumbling and comical pirate captain, and his crew aboard the ship, Black Pig.  Captain Pugwash is John Ryan’s best-known character: he  also created Mary, Mungo and Midge; Sir Prancelot and Harris Tweed.

Blurb from dust wrapper: “When Captain Pugwash retires from active piracy he is amazed and delighted to be offered a Huge Reward for performing what seems to be a simple task. Little does he realise what villainy and treachery lurk in the little town of Sinkport, or what a hideous fate may await him there”.