1923 Rare Book - Oriental Fairy Tales Illustrated by Rie Cramer
A luminous Art Deco vision of the East, where ancient tales meet refined early 20th-century illustration.
Author: Various. Introduction by Sir Edwin Arnold. Illustrated by Rie Cramer.
Title: Oriental Fairy Tales.
Publisher: New York, Duffield & Company, 1923.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: viii, 627 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original green cloth binding, richly decorated with a mounted color plate by Rie Cramer framed in gilt, with gilt lettering to the front board and spine; light wear and scuffing consistent with age; hinges sound; a striking and well-preserved example; housed in a removable protective mylar cover.
Content: Very good; bright, tight, and clean throughout; a pleasing and well-preserved copy.
Illustrations: Illustrated with sixteen tipped-in color plates by Rie Cramer, each with printed border; featuring Scheherazade, Ali Baba, Sinbad, and other legendary figures; vibrant, stylized, and luminous, reflecting Cramer’s refined Art Deco sensibility.
Estimate: (USD 250–300).
The book: A beautifully produced early American edition of Oriental Fairy Tales, bringing together a rich selection of stories drawn from Arabian, Persian, and Indian traditions. This 1923 Duffield printing stands out for its elegant presentation and for the remarkable illustrations by Rie Cramer, whose work transforms these timeless narratives into a visual feast. Tales such as Ali Baba, Sinbad the Sailor, and The Fisherman and the Genie are rendered with a decorative sophistication that reflects the era’s fascination with the “Orient,” blending exotic storytelling with modern artistic refinement. The combination of tipped-in plates, gilt-stamped binding, and generous format makes this volume both a literary collection and a highly desirable object of book art.
The author and editor: Sir Edwin Arnold (1832–1904), best known for The Light of Asia, was a key figure in introducing Eastern philosophy and literature to Western audiences. His introduction frames these tales as expressions of universal human experience, emphasizing their poetic beauty and enduring moral insight.
The illustrator: Rie Cramer (1887–1977) was a celebrated Dutch illustrator whose work bridges Art Nouveau and Art Deco aesthetics. Known for her graceful compositions, stylized figures, and luminous color palettes, she brought a distinctive elegance to fairy-tale illustration. Her contributions to Oriental Fairy Tales are among her most refined and sought-after, making this edition particularly appealing to collectors of illustrated books.