1935 Rare First Edition - Andersen Fairy Tales Illustrated by Rex Whistler
Author: Hans Andersen. Illustrated by Rex Whistler.
Title: Fairy Tales and Legends.
Publisher: London, Cobden-Sanderson Ltd, 1935 (First Rex Whistler illustrated edition).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8.5 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: vii, 470 pages.
Binding: Near fine original publisher’s decorative cloth binding, richly stamped in gilt with an elaborate fairy-tale design. Exceptionally fresh and vibrant, with only minimal signs of handling, as shown. Under a protective, removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good, clean and tight. Rare light foxing to the outer edge of the text block, as shown. A well-preserved copy.
Illustrations: Profusely illustrated by Rex Whistler with ten full-page and numerous in-text black-and-white illustrations of remarkable elegance and charm. Complete.
Estimate: (USD 250 – 350)
The book: A beautifully produced collection of Hans Andersen’s most beloved fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling, and many others. Blending fantasy, moral reflection, and poetic imagination, these timeless stories explore themes of love, sacrifice, transformation, and innocence. This 1935 edition is especially notable for Rex Whistler’s refined and whimsical illustrations, which lend a distinctive visual identity to Andersen’s enchanting universe.
The author: Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was a Danish author celebrated worldwide for his fairy tales, which have become enduring classics of children’s literature. His stories, often tinged with melancholy and moral depth, transcend age and culture, continuing to captivate readers across generations.
The illustrator: Rex Whistler (1905–1944) was a British artist, designer, and illustrator associated with a refined and romantic aesthetic. Renowned for his decorative murals and book illustrations, Whistler brought a distinctive elegance and narrative sensitivity to his work. His illustrations for this edition of Andersen’s tales are among his most charming, perfectly complementing the lyrical and imaginative spirit of the stories.