1890 Scarce Book - Swedish Fairy Tales by Herman Hofberg, Illustrated

Author: Herman Hofberg. Translated by W. H. Myers.
Title: Swedish Fairy Tales.
Publisher: Chicago, Belford-Clarke Co., 1890.
Language: Text in English (translated from the Swedish).
Size: 8 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: ix, 228 pages.
Binding: Very Attractive and Very Good Publisher’s original pictorial cloth binding, richly decorated in red, black, and gilt on the front cover and spine; rear cover in plain green cloth (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt. With bright and striking gilt decoration remaining well preserved.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or toning - as shown, a neat pencil gift inscription dated 1891 on the first endpaper; crease and pencil scribbles on the final endpaper, endpapers worn and scuffed but still tight and secure, as shown). Overall, a solid and attractive copy.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with numerous in-text black-and-white engravings depicting scenes from Scandinavian folklore, including elves, trolls, and legendary figures. Complete.

Estimate: (USD 250–300).

The book: Swedish Fairy Tales is a charming late nineteenth-century collection that gathers traditional Scandinavian legends, folklore, and magical narratives drawn from various regions of Sweden. Issued in an eye-catching pictorial cloth binding typical of the period, the volume reflects the growing Victorian fascination with northern myth, folklore, and national traditions. The tales range from encounters with trolls and forest spirits to romantic legends of knights, maidens, and enchanted places, offering a vivid glimpse into Sweden’s rich oral storytelling heritage. The gilt edges and decorative binding make this edition especially appealing to collectors of illustrated fairy tale literature and decorative Victorian gift books.

The author: Herman Hofberg (1823–1883) was a Swedish writer, folklorist, and librarian who devoted much of his work to collecting and preserving the traditional legends and folk narratives of Sweden. His efforts helped safeguard regional oral traditions at a time when industrialization and modernization threatened to erase them from living memory.

The translator: William Henry Myers was a nineteenth-century translator who contributed to introducing Scandinavian literature and folklore to English-speaking audiences, helping popularize northern European fairy traditions during the Victorian era.