1937 The Fairy Circus – Signed Dorothy P. Lathrop, Scarce

Author: Dorothy P. Lathrop. Illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop.
Title: The Fairy Circus.
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan Company, 1937. First Edition, third printing. Signed by Dorothy P. Lathrop.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 9.5 inches.
Pages: 66 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good publisher’s original orange cloth binding, front cover stamped in black with decorative gilt fairy vignette (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A bright and attractive copy.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, small abrasion to the endpapers from the careful removal of old tape by a previous owner (visible in photos) - as shown). Signed by Dorothy P. Lathrop on the second blank page as shown. Overall a very well-kept example.
Illustrations: Wonderfully illustrated throughout by Lathrop, with both delicate black-and-white plates and luminous full-color illustrations. The fairy and woodland scenes—turtles, mice, chipmunks, and ethereal winged figures—display her distinctive Art Deco-inflected line and soft, dreamlike palette. Complete.

Estimate: (USD 400–500).

The book: The Fairy Circus is one of Dorothy P. Lathrop’s most enchanting creations, first published in 1931 and here in the 1937 printing. A whimsical procession of woodland creatures and fairies unfolds in a magical nocturnal circus, rendered with exquisite imagination and technical finesse. The large format allows the illustrations to breathe, making this a particularly desirable presentation copy. Signed examples are very scarce on the market, and this title—especially in such pleasing condition—is notably uncommon.

The author / illustrator: Dorothy Pulis Lathrop (1891–1980) was an American illustrator and author best known for her sensitive depictions of animals and fairy subjects. In 1938, she became the first recipient of the Caldecott Medal for Animals of the Bible. Her work is celebrated for its graceful draftsmanship, delicate tonal work, and poetic atmosphere, placing her among the most important American illustrators of the early twentieth century.