1897 Rare First Edition - The One-Eyed Griffin and Other Fairy Stories
Author: Herbert E. Inman. Illustrated by E. A. Mason.
Title: The One-Eyed Griffin and Other Fairy Stories.
Publisher: London, Frederick Warne and Co.; New York, 1897. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: xii, 353 pages.
Binding: Original publisher’s decorative green cloth binding, elaborately blocked in darker green with a central pictorial panel and gilt lettering to spine; upper edge gilt; an attractive Victorian binding, very good, with rubbing to extremities and wear to head of spine. Under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Good condition; text with scattered foxing, more noticeable to preliminaries and title page; occasional toning; small margin tear to page 226 repaired by a previous owner - as shown.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with numerous plates by E. A. Mason, including a frontispiece; finely executed and evocative illustrations enhancing the fairy tale atmosphere.
Estimate: (USD 250–300).
The book: A charming and imaginativefirst editionof this late Victorian collection of fairy tales,The One-Eyed Griffinblends adventure, moral storytelling, and rich fantasy; populated by griffins, enchanted landscapes, and curious transformations, the tales reflect the enduring fascination of the period with folklore and invention; the decorative publisher’s binding, with its flowing Art Nouveau-inspired patterns and pictorial panel, is especially appealing and emblematic of the era’s finest trade bindings; accompanied by numerous illustrations, the volume offers a vivid and immersive entry into the world of Victorian fairy literature.
The author: Herbert E. Inman was a British writer of children’s literature active in the late 19th century, whose works combine traditional fairy tale motifs with original storytelling; his writing reflects the imaginative richness and moral tone characteristic of Victorian juvenile fiction.
The illustrator: E. A. Mason provided the illustrations for this volume, creating atmospheric and expressive images that complement the narrative; his work contributes to the visual charm of the book, bridging Victorian illustration and early modern stylistic sensibilities.