Fairy Stories from Hans Andersen (Ward Lock, 1917) illustrated by Margaret W. Tarrant

Fairy Stories

from Hans Christian Andersen
London, Melbourne and Toronto: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, 1st edition 1917

A volume in the forty-eight colour plate (incl. endpapers) ‘Prince Charming’ series; however this book pre-dates the series being named. Other titles in the series include Alice in Wonderland (1916), Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1920), The Water-Babies (1922), Aesop’s Fables (1924), Stories of King Arthur (1925), Robin Hood (1927), and The Adventures of Don Quixote (1929).

Nicely illustrated by Margaret W. Tarrant (1888-1959). The forty-eight plate edition was reprinted several times throughout the 1920s and 1930s; this copy being the very uncommon first edition which is dated 1917 to the title page.

Note: This copy in red cloth however the 1917 first edition is also seen in blue cloth. Early printings have the oblong plate to upper cover, later printings have an oval plate.

Hardback. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt title and blind rules decoration to spine; gilt title, colour onlay plate and blind rules to upper cover; illustrated endpapers. pp [i]-x, [11]-340, 341-344 publisher’s cataogue, including colour plates. 8.5 x 6.25 inches approx. (212mm x 159mm).

Cloth a little rubbed and worn to extremities, a touch dusty in places but generally cloth very clean with bright onlay plate; gilt slightly dulled to spine; a little crushing to spine ends. Age-toning and some dustiness, occasional foxing, occasional corner crease or wear, but generally pages clean throughout; rear endpaper lightly cracked to hinge; edges of page-block spotted and dusty.

Overall, a particularly well preserved copy in lovely, clean condition – quite beautiful.

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References

Alan Horne, The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators (Antique Collectors’ Club, 1994)