1911 Rare Book - Little Songs for Little People by Githa and Millicent Sowerby
Author: Selected by Githa Sowerby. Illustrated by Millicent Sowerby.
Title: Little Songs for Little People.
Publisher: London, Henry Frowde & Hodder & Stoughton, (1911). First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 6 inches.
Pages: 46 pages.
Binding: Near fine publisher’s original blue cloth binding, richly decorated in gilt to front cover and spine with elaborate Art Nouveau-style motifs and a central pictorial onlay (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover. Upper edge gilt; a bright and highly decorative binding.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light scattered foxing - as shown).
Illustrations: Beautifully illustrated throughout with twelve full-page color plates and charming black-and-white designs by Millicent Sowerby. Complete.
Estimate: (USD 275–325).
The book: A charming and increasingly uncommon Edwardian children’s book bringing together beloved nursery rhymes such as Little Bo-Peep, Three Blind Mice, and Rock-a-Bye Baby, presented with exceptional artistic care; Millicent Sowerby’s illustrations, both delicate and imaginative, elevate these familiar verses into a dreamlike world populated by fairies, children, and softly stylized figures; the combination of musical notation, decorative line work, and luminous color plates reflects the refined taste of early 20th-century gift books, intended as much for admiration as for reading; the striking gilt-stamped binding, with its flowing organic motifs and pictorial centerpiece, further enhances the book’s appeal as a collectible object.
The author: Githa Sowerby (1876–1970) was an English writer and playwright best known for her socially conscious dramas; in this work, she brings together traditional nursery rhymes, presenting them in an accessible and visually engaging format for young readers.
The illustrator: Millicent Sowerby (1878–1967), sister of Githa, was a noted illustrator of children’s books whose work is characterized by gentle fantasy, soft color palettes, and an ability to capture the imaginative world of childhood; her illustrations for Little Songs for Little People remain among her most charming and recognizable contributions.