Muumi. Moomins Exhibition Catalogue, 1986. Signed and Dated by Tove Jansson & Tuulikki Pietilä

An extraordinarily rare item of Moomins memorabilia: a signed example of the official exhibition catalogue published by Tampere Art Museum, Finland, on the occasion of the first-ever Moomins Exhibition in 1986. 

First printing. Printed in the Finnish language. Softcover, 72 pages, 24 x 17 cm approximately.

In 1986, Tove Jansson and her life-partner, the artist Tuulikki Pietilä, donated a remarkable collection of Moomins-related artwork to Tampere Art Museum - comprising over 1,000 drawings and paintings and 38 three-dimensional miniature tableaux, crafted by Jansson, Pietilä, and their friend Pentti Eistola. The collection was first displayed in The Moomins exhibition at Tampere, alongside original sketches and book illustrations. The donation also included other works by Jansson and extensive archival material.

This catalogue was published to mark the occasion, with text by Tove Jansson and photography by Per Olov Jansson, the author’s brother. Illustrated copiously, mostly in monotone, with three single-colour plates and one double-page colour illustration.

Signed by both Tove Jansson and Tuulikki Pietilä, with Pietilä also adding the date: 28/4/86, placing this copy at the time of the exhibition itself.

Condition: covers very lightly tanned; a crease across the lower corner of the front wrapper; a bump to the top edge with a small crease to the top edge of some pages. Otherwise in excellent, clean condition. Near Fine.