Roald Dahl's "Matilda" Turns 30

"So Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea." That quote and many others extolling the virtues of reading great books comes from Roald Dahl's Matilda. Originally published on October 1, 1988, Dahl's now-classic tale of a gifted girl cursed with horrible parents and a tyrannical headmistresses was an immediate success. Receiving the Children's Book Award in 1989, becoming a major motion picture in 1996, and inspiring the 2010 musical adaptation, Matilda is perhaps Dahl's best-selling book, with over 17 million copies in print.

Collectors should head to British rare bookseller Peter Harrington who is offering six first editions of Matilda. "In recent years, Matilda has become our top-selling book," explained Peter Harrington's son and current owner, Pom. "Matilda is a fabulous spirited girl and the book is loved by adults and children alike."

Among the six copies offered for sale are two inscribed first editions, one being a presentation copy with, "To all the Briggs, with love, Roald. 9/4/88" at the front. Michael Briggs had operated on Dahl's spine in 1978, after which the men became good friends. This copy is available for £4,000 ($5,300). The second inscribed copy, available for for £3,500 ($4,630) reads: "Camilla, love Roald Dahl."  

Additionally, Penguin Random House will be releasing special editions of the book on October 4 with new cover images by the book's original illustrator, Quentin Blake. Each of the three covers features a grown-up Matilda as an astrophysicist, a world traveler, and Chief Executive of the British Library. These 30th anniversary editions are available for pre-order starting at $17.99.