1890 Rare Book - Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales, Illustrated

Author: Hans Christian Andersen. Translated by Mrs. H. B. Paull.
Title: Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales: A New Translation.
Publisher: London and New York, Frederick Warne and Co., 1890.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: viii, 670 pages.
Binding: Very good original publisher's red cloth binding from the celebrated Royal Fairy Library series. Front cover richly decorated in gilt and black with fairy motifs surrounding an elaborate central vignette, spine pictorially decorated and lettered in black and gilt. Light sunning to the spine as shown, with minor rubbing to extremities. A bright and attractive example of this highly decorative Victorian children's binding (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good and remarkably clean content. Pages remain fresh and well preserved throughout, with only very occasional foxing. Moderate toning and scattered foxing confined primarily to the final leaf. No ownership markings noted. A particularly appealing copy internally.
Illustrations: Complete with frontispiece and 9 additional full-page illustrations, for a total of 10 full-page plates. 

Estimate: (USD $200–350).

The book: A charming Victorian edition of Hans Christian Andersen's immortal fairy tales, published as part of Frederick Warne's popular Royal Fairy Library series. This edition presents Andersen's stories in the English translation of Mrs. H. B. Paull, carefully adapted and arranged for younger readers while preserving the imagination, emotional depth, and moral insight that have made these tales beloved throughout the world.

The collection includes many of Andersen's most enduring creations, among them The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, The Fir-Tree, Little Tiny, The Red Shoes, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Angel, The Elfin Hill, and numerous other classics. Unlike many fairy tale collections of the nineteenth century, Andersen's stories combine fantasy with profound reflections on kindness, sacrifice, loneliness, beauty, and transformation, themes that continue to resonate with readers of all ages.

The striking publisher's binding is especially noteworthy. The front cover features whimsical fairies, elaborate scrolling ornamentation, and a central gilt vignette, making the volume an excellent example of the decorative gift books that flourished during the late Victorian period. Such attractive original cloth bindings have become increasingly sought after by collectors of illustrated and children's literature.

The author: Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) is one of the most influential authors in the history of children's literature. Born in Denmark, Andersen rose from humble beginnings to international fame through his remarkable fairy tales, which blended folklore, imagination, and literary sophistication. Stories such as The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling, and The Nightingale have been translated into countless languages and remain among the most widely read works in world literature. His tales continue to inspire writers, artists, filmmakers, and readers nearly two centuries after their creation.