1900 Rare Book - The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald, Illustrated

Author: George MacDonald.
Title: The Princess and Curdie.
Publisher: London, Glasgow and Dublin: Blackie and Son Limited. (1900).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5" x 5".
Pages: vi, 304 pages + publisher's illustrated catalogue.
Binding: Very good original decorative turquoise-blue cloth binding, richly stamped in gilt and dark brown to the spine and front board with an attractive Art Nouveau-inspired design. The binding remains bright and appealing, with light rubbing and minor wear to the extremities, most noticeable at the spine ends. A particularly handsome edition of one of MacDonald's most beloved fantasy works. Protected in a removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good content overall. Pages are clean and well preserved with light foxing, chiefly confined to the preliminary leaves and final pages, as shown. The text block remains sound and attractive, with the illustrations well preserved throughout.
Illustrations: Complete with frontispiece and thirty beautiful illustrations by Helen Stratton, whose imaginative artwork perfectly complements the dreamlike atmosphere of MacDonald's fairy tale classic.

Estimate: (USD 175- 200) 

The book: The Princess and Curdie is the celebrated sequel to George MacDonald's masterpiece The Princess and the Goblin, continuing the adventures of the miner's son Curdie and Princess Irene in a story rich with fantasy, moral allegory, and wonder.

Years after the events of the earlier tale, Curdie is called upon by Irene's mysterious great-great-grandmother to undertake a perilous mission. Endowed with a remarkable gift that allows him to discern the true nature of those around him, he journeys to the royal city where corruption, greed, and dark forces threaten the kingdom. Along the way he encounters strange creatures, hidden dangers, and profound lessons concerning courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and spiritual truth.

Blending fairy tale, Christian symbolism, adventure, and social commentary, the novel stands among the most influential works of nineteenth-century fantasy literature and helped shape the development of the modern fantasy genre.

The author: George MacDonald (1824–1905) was one of the great imaginative writers of the Victorian era. A novelist, poet, minister, and storyteller, he exerted a profound influence on later fantasy authors including C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and G. K. Chesterton. His works are celebrated for their blend of fairy tale enchantment, spiritual depth, and enduring humanity.

Helen Stratton (1867–1961) was among the most accomplished illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration. Trained at the Birmingham School of Art during a period that saw the flourishing of the Arts and Crafts movement, she developed a distinctive style characterized by graceful line work, flowing decorative forms, and a remarkable ability to evoke the magical and otherworldly.