1870 Scarce Victorian Book - Fairy Mary’s Dream by A.F.L., illustrated in Color

Author: (A. F. L.) Alexander Francis Lydon. Illustrated by the author.
Title: Fairy Mary’s Dream.
Publisher: London, Groombridge and Sons, 1870. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 10 x 7.5 inches.
Pages: 27 pages.
Binding: Original publisher’s dark green cloth binding, elaborately panelled in blind with decorative cornerpieces and a richly gilt central medallion to the upper cover; spine lettered in gilt; all edges gilt; a very attractive Victorian binding in very good condition, with light rubbing to extremities and minor marks -as shown. A rare find in any condition!
Content: Very good condition; complete with 8 color plates including the chromolithographic frontispiece and richly decorated title page; light foxing and occasional spotting; an early gift inscription dated March 1878 on the blank leaf between the frontispiece and title page - as shown; text block otherwise clean, fresh, and well preserved.
Illustrations: Eight finely executed chromolithographic plates of great richness and color, each surrounded by ornamental gilt borders and protected by tissue guards, complemented by delicate wood-engraved vignettes throughout the text.

Estimate: (USD 700–950).

The book: A striking and scarce Victorian gift book, Fairy Mary’s Dream exemplifies the refined artistry of late 19th-century children’s publishing; issued in 1870 by Groombridge and Sons, it presents a poetic narrative in which a young girl dreams herself transformed into a butterfly, drifting through a world of nature and imagination; the work is distinguished by its exquisite chromolithographic plates, alive with color and framed by elegant gilt ornamentation, creating a luminous visual experience that elevates the book beyond mere reading into the realm of decorative art; the harmonious integration of text, image, and binding makes this an especially desirable example of Victorian bookmaking, seldom encountered in such pleasing and complete condition.

The author: Alexander Francis Lydon (1836–1917) was a British illustrator and engraver closely associated with the natural history publishing world, notably contributing to works issued by Benjamin Fawcett; renowned for his precision and sensitivity to the natural world, Lydon brought a refined artistic touch to both scientific and imaginative subjects, as seen in this delicate and atmospheric work.