Coloring Book Cover Artwork

In June of 2013, Heritage Auctions offered this original artwork for a Snow White coloring book. The listing read as follows...

Beautifully illustrated cover for an unknown Snow White edition, possibly unused. The ornate lettering is similar to the opening title in the film, leading us to believe this is from the time of the original Disney movie. Gouache on illustration board measuring approximately 8.25" x 11".

We haven't yet come across a coloring book that utilized this artwork; it is possible that the design was never used.

1952 Snow White Coloring Book, Whitman No. 1093

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Coloring Book, no. 1093. Produced by Whitman Publishing Company, 1952 reprint. "© Walt Disney Productions." The Authorized Edition features a pink cover with raised embossed texture. Illustrations include green highlights. Dimensions: 11" high x 8" wide. Original retail price 39¢.

Illustrations and text copyright Walt Disney Productions/Western 1952. Posted here for historical documentation purposes only.

A regular edition was of this book was also issued. It had a blue cover and lacks the green page highlights.

1952 Snow White Coloring Book, Whitman No. 1052

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Coloring Book. A Whitman book, no. 1052. Produced by Western Publishing Company, 1952 reprint. "© Walt Disney Productions." 80 pages. Dimensions: 11" high x 8" wide. Original retail price 39¢.

Both a regular and "Authorized Edition" were produced. The latter featured the same images partially filled in with green highlights.

Illustrations and text copyright Walt Disney Productions/Western 1952. Posted here for historical documentation purposes only.

The price was raised to 49¢ in a later printing.

1952 Snow White Paint Book, Whitman 678:10

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Paint Book, no. 678:10. Produced by Whitman Publishing Company, 1952. "© Walt Disney Productions." Dimensions: 11" high x 8" wide.

The same illustration is pictured on the front and back cover.

The Whitman "Authorized Edition" featured images partially filled in with red highlights. Other editions have been seen without the red coloring.

Illustrations and text copyright Walt Disney Productions/Whitman 1952. Posted here for historical documentation purposes only.

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A rather unusual copy of this coloring book was seen for sale on the UK ebay site. It included numerous duplicate pages, several of which are in full color. It's possible that multiple coloring books were combined; it is bound together with three large staples along the right side. Maybe this was some kind of mock-up.

The title page features a blonde Snow White and reads, "Adprint London. Published by arrangement with Western Printing and Lithographing Company, Racine, Wisconsin USA. Made and printed in Great Britain by Robinson LTD. London."

1938 Snow White "Paint Book", Whitman No. 696

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Paint Book...To Color with Paints and Crayons. Produced by Whitman Publishing Company, no. 696. "Copyright 1938 by Walt Disney Enterprises." Includes 20 interior pages. Dimensions: 15" high x 10.5" wide.

Illustrations and text copyright Walt Disney Enterprises/Whitman 1938. Posted here for historical documentation purposes only.

Title page.

Sample pages.

1938 Snow White "Paint Book", Whitman No. 621

Snow White Paint Book, issued by Whitman Publishing Company. No. 621. Copyright 1938 Walt Disney Enterprises. Dimensions: 7.25" tall x 10.5" wide. A total of 80 pages. One of several early coloring books that were produced during the initial run of the motion picture.

Cover image via Heritage Auctions.

Italian Coloring Book Set by Publisher Alfredo Caravaggio

A series of four Snow White coloring books were issued circa 1940-41 by Italian publishing house Alfredo Caravaggio Editore, Milan. The set is is numbered 1-4. The books are designed with a full-color page opposite the same image in black & white, ready for coloring or painting. Dimensions: 21.2 cm x 15 cm; 8 pages each.

The four covers.

Book no. 2 sample pages.

Book no. 3 sample pages.

These same titles were re-printed years later by Piccoli Editrice. The back covers of book no. 3 are pictured here for comparison of the Alfredo Caravaggio edition to Piccoli.

Special thanks to Nunziante Valoroso for sharing sample pages from his collection.

1938 Snow White Coloring Set, Whitman No. 3021

1938 Snow White Coloring Set by Whitman, no. 3021. The boxed set includes two 20-page booklets to color and a small box of crayons.

Image via Heritage.

1938 Snow White Paint & Crayon Set, Whitman No. 2187

This 1938 Snow White Paint and Crayon Set was made by Whitman Publishing Company. Stock no. 2187. The original box would have included a paint set, paintbrush, and crayons, plus 80 story pages to color (in four 20-page books).

Image via Heritage.