1890 1stED - The Story of a Spring Morning and Other Tales by Mary L. Molesworth

Author: Mary Louisa Molesworth. Illustrated by M. Ellen Edwards.
Title: The Story of a Spring Morning, and Other Tales.
Publisher: London, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1890. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: vi, 331 pages + publisher's catalogue.
Binding: Very good publisher’s original decorative blue cloth binding with gilt lettering on the front cover and spine, elaborately patterned spine panels and borders (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A handsome Victorian binding, well preserved and attractive.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, some light foxing, toning and staining - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated by M. Ellen Edwards with a frontispiece and several full-page illustrations throughout the text, all present.

Estimate: (USD 135–150).

The book: First published in 1890,The Story of a Spring Morningis a charming collection of moral and domestic tales for young readers, written in the warm and gently instructive style that made Mrs. Molesworth one of the most beloved authors of Victorian children’s literature. The title story follows the experiences and reflections of young characters discovering the quiet wonders of nature and family life, while the additional stories extend these themes through episodes of kindness, perseverance, and youthful imagination. The illustrations by M. Ellen Edwards enrich the narrative with delicate scenes of childhood and domestic interiors, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of late nineteenth-century storytelling. Copies of the first edition in their original decorative cloth remain appealing examples of Victorian juvenile publishing.

The author: Mary Louisa Molesworth (1839–1921), writing as Mrs. Molesworth, was one of the most prolific and widely read writers of Victorian children’s fiction. Often compared to Juliana Horatia Ewing and other prominent authors of the period, she specialized in gentle domestic tales that combined moral instruction with imaginative storytelling. Works such asThe Cuckoo ClockandCarrotssecured her reputation as a foundational figure in nineteenth-century juvenile literature.

The illustrator: M. Ellen Edwards (1838–1934) was a respected British illustrator and painter whose work frequently appeared in books and magazines of the Victorian era. Known for her expressive line work and careful attention to character and setting, she illustrated numerous children’s and literary works. Her illustrations forThe Story of a Spring Morningcapture both the innocence of childhood and the quiet emotional tone of Molesworth’s storytelling.