2013 Rare 1stED - An Unexpected Gift, A Christmas Tale by Charles van Sandwyk

Author: Charles van Sandwyk.
Title: An Unexpected Gift.
Language: Text in English.
Publisher: North Vancouver, C.S.V. Fine Arts (The Fairy Press), 2013. First Edition.
Size: 9" x 6.5".
Pages: 16 pages of illustrations and 24 pages of text.
Binding: Fine and attractive original cherry-red pictorial card covers, hand-stitched binding (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Fine content (bright, tight, and clean - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with seven watercolors and eight ink drawings printed on three papers, with matt gilt endpapers featuring a repeating holly sprig design.

Estimate: Scarce, with few copies available on the market.

The book: A charming and scarce first edition of this gentle, old-fashioned Christmas tale by Charles van Sandwyk, following Bartholomew the Green—cousin of Father Christmas—as he leaves Antarctica on a mission to restore warmth and tradition to a world in need. Elegantly produced and richly illustrated, it is a particularly appealing example of the artist’s festive works.

The author: Charles van Sandwyk is a Canadian artist and author known for his whimsical illustrations and finely crafted books. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1966, he moved to Vancouver, Canada at a young age. Influenced by early 20th-century illustrators, his work evokes a sense of nostalgia and enchantment, often featuring animals, fairies, and other fantastical subjects. His works are widely collected, and he has notably illustrated editions for the Folio Society. He divides his time between British Columbia and a remote Fijian island, where the natural environment deeply informs his art.