Miracle on 34th Street, Valentine Davies, Stated First Edition, 1947

A true first edition, published by HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY in 1947.

"This is a twentieth-century Christmas Carol, a warmly humorous story of an old man who thinks he is Santa Claus. There is plenty of evidence to support his claim. To begin with his name is Kris Kringle. The reindeer in the Zoo eat out of his hand.
The children who come to Macy's to see him of course are convinced he is Santa Claus. And so are their par-ents, especially after he sends them to Gimbels for toys that Macy's does not carry. Rival jewelers begin to get customers sent by Cartier's, and all in all he lets loose such a wave of Christmas cheer and Christmas giving that the city is engulfed in a flood of good will.

Unfortunately there are, as always, certain practical souls who refuse to believe that Kris is Santa Claus. Unmoved by any Christmas spirit, they take steps to have Kris put away as a lunatic. The case goes to court. On the outcome hangs not only Kris's own fate but the political future of presiding Judge Harper; the integrity of the U. S. Post Office Depart-ment; the happiness of Fred Gayley, Kris's lawyer; the salvation of Doris Walker, whom Fred loves and who had hired Kris for Macy's; and the far-ranging dreams of Doris's once-cynical little daughter Susan. Indeed peace on earth and good-will toward men are the issues at stake as Judge Harper renders his verdict.
This is a story that young and old will welcome as a touching and hilarious prelude to the Christmas
season."

Dust jacket has small chips/rubbing/tanning along edges but overall in very good condition with clean, bright color. Book has a beautiful Rockwell Kent book plate on front endpaper and is otherwise unmarked.