1967 Fine Binding - Fairy Tales and Legends by Hans Andersen Illus. Rex Whistler

Author: Hans Christian Andersen. Illustrated by Rex Whistler.
Title: Fairy Tales and Legends.
Publisher: London, The Bodley Head, 1967 (eighth impression of the 1935 Cobden-Sanderson Ltd edition).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: 470 pages.
Binding: Attractive and near fine unsigned custom binding of full blue morocco leather with gilt title to spine, raised bands, and gilt floral tooling to spine compartments and corners of boards. Gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, and all edges gilt. The binding is unsigned but of fine craftsmanship. A very beautiful book!
Content: Fine condition. Clean, bright, and tight throughout, free of markings.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with striking black-and-white illustrations by Rex Whistler, including decorative vignettes, full-page plates, and a richly designed title page. (Complete).

Estimate: (USD 500 – 600).

The book: A beautifully bound copy of Fairy Tales and Legends by Hans Christian Andersen, one of the most celebrated collections of stories ever written for children and adults alike. This Bodley Head edition, originally published in 1935 and here in its 1967 eighth impression, is enhanced by the artistry of Rex Whistler, whose illustrations bring Andersen’s timeless tales—such as The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, The Little Match Girl, and The Little Mermaid—to vivid life. The luxurious binding in deep blue morocco with gilt detailing makes this volume an exquisite collector’s copy.

The author: Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) remains one of the greatest figures in world literature, best known for his fairy tales which blend folklore, fantasy, and moral allegory. Stories such as The Snow Queen and The Ugly Duckling have become part of global cultural heritage, translated into hundreds of languages and adapted countless times in print, stage, and film.

The illustrator: Rex Whistler (1905–1944) was a British painter, designer, and illustrator whose career was tragically cut short during World War II. Known for his elegant, playful, and sometimes surreal style, Whistler contributed to book illustration, stage design, and mural work. His detailed black-and-white line illustrations for Fairy Tales and Legends are among his most admired contributions to illustrated literature.