RARE 1945 edition of an adapted version in English of "Matthew the Young King" (Krol Macius Pierwszy / King Matt the First) by the famous Jewish pedagogue Janusz Korczak (pen name of Henryk Goldszmit) which became a collector`s edition by sheer mistake. Following the printing of this edition, the publisher, Marian Kister, received some news from post-war Europe, and hastily appended an additional blue preface page to the books ready for distribution. This page relates in an enthusiastic tone the happy news that Janusz Korczak did not die in the hands of the Gestapo after all, and that "the Underground rescued him at the last moment, spiriting him away from the train, and that he is alive today in Lublin". This information is, of course, false: Janusz Korczak died in 1942 in the Treblinka concentration camp. As in other editions of this classic children`s tale, this book is accompanied by the caricature-like illustrations of Irena Lorentowicz. 210x144mm. 256 pages. Grey cloth hardcover with green illustration on front. Illustrated endpapers. Cover and cover upper corners slightly worn. Front cover and spine stained. Spine edges bumped. First few pages bottom edge slightly wavy. Text block edges rough-cut as published. Pages slightly yellowing. [SUMMARY]: This rare collectible edition of Korczak`s tale has suffered slight wear to cover, but is otherwise in good condition.