1913 First Edition - Our Nursery Rhyme Book Illustrated by Honor C. Appleton

Author: Edited by Letty Littlewood and Frank Littlewood. Illustrated by Honor C. Appleton.
Title: Our Nursery Rhyme Book.
Publisher: London, Herbert & Daniel, [1913]. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: xiv, 181 pages.
Binding: Original publisher’s grass-green cloth binding, richly decorated in gilt with an elegant Art Nouveau design featuring clocks, birds, and flowing lines; upper edge gilt; a very attractive binding, in very good condition (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Good to very good condition; internally clean overall with foxing mainly confined to endpapers and preliminaries as shown; light toning.
Illustrations: Illustrated with 12 delicate color plates by Honor C. Appleton, each with captioned guards, along with numerous charming line drawings throughout; pictorial title printed in color.

Estimate: (USD 275–350).

The book: A beautifully produced Edwardian nursery classic, this first edition of Our Nursery Rhyme Book gathers a rich treasury of traditional rhymes, songs, and children’s lore; from Mother Goose verses to playful games and riddles, the volume captures the imaginative world of early childhood with remarkable completeness; what truly elevates the book is the work of Honor C. Appleton, whose soft, dreamlike illustrations bring a gentle narrative warmth to each page; the decorative gilt binding, with its flowing organic motifs and finely balanced design, is a striking example of early 20th-century gift book artistry; a volume that is as much an object of beauty as it is a literary collection.

The authors: Letty and Frank Littlewood were editors of children’s literature during the early 20th century, known for compiling traditional rhymes and stories into accessible and beautifully produced volumes; their work reflects a desire to preserve oral traditions while presenting them in an appealing printed form for a new generation.

The illustrator: Honor Charlotte Appleton was a celebrated British illustrator associated with the golden age of children’s book illustration; her work is characterized by soft colors, expressive figures, and a distinctive charm that bridges Victorian sentiment and modern sensibility; her illustrations for nursery rhymes remain among her most enduring and beloved contributions.