{"product_id":"1895-rare-book-celtic-fairy-tales-by-j-jacobs-illustrated-by-john-d-batten","title":"1895 Rare Book - Celtic Fairy Tales by J. Jacobs illustrated by John D. Batten","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn attractive and scarce Victorian “Popular Edition” of Joseph Jacobs’ Celtic Fairy Tales, richly illustrated throughout by John D. Batten and complete with all seven full-page plates.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Joseph Jacobs (selected and edited); illustrated by John D. Batten.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCeltic Fairy Tales.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e London: David Nutt, 57–59 Long Acre, [1895].\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Popular Edition. First edition in this reduced popular format.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e vii, 236 pages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8.5 x 6 inches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good original publisher’s decorative cloth binding, with pictorial and floral designs to the front board and spine by John D. Batten (spine somewhat toned, light wear to extremities, hinges fine and binding firm, as shown). Protected in a removable mylar cover. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContent:\u003c\/strong\u003e Good to very good content (tight and complete, with foxing throughout, heavier on the preliminary and final leaves, as shown; previous owner’s name to front free endpaper).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Complete with seven full-page black-and-white illustrations, including the striking \u003cem\u003eSea-Maiden\u003c\/em\u003e frontispiece, together with numerous illustrations, decorative initials and ornaments throughout the text by John D. Batten.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEstimate: \u003c\/strong\u003eUSD 250–300.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis attractive \u003cem\u003ePopular Edition\u003c\/em\u003e of \u003cem\u003eCeltic Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e was prepared as part of David Nutt’s \u003cem\u003eFairy Tales of the British Empire\u003c\/em\u003e series. The original, more elaborate edition appeared in the early 1890s; this condensed edition, with a new preface dated July 1, 1895, retained the tales and much of Batten’s remarkable artwork while omitting the scholarly notes and parallels of the larger edition. Its 236-page text and seven full-page plates correspond to the publisher’s contemporary specification for the children’s or popular issue. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe collection gathers twenty-six stories from Irish, Scottish and Welsh tradition, including \u003cem\u003eConnla and the Fairy Maiden\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Story of Deirdre\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eGold-Tree and Silver-Tree\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Wooing of Olwen\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Sea-Maiden\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Battle of the Birds\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Lad with the Goat-Skin\u003c\/em\u003e. Jacobs’ lucid retellings and Batten’s imaginative blend of Celtic ornament, medievalism and fantasy helped make the volume one of the defining illustrated folklore books of the late Victorian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoseph Jacobs (1854–1916) was an Australian-born folklorist, historian and literary scholar who became one of the most influential collectors and popularizers of traditional tales in the English language. His celebrated collections included \u003cem\u003eEnglish Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMore English Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCeltic Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMore Celtic Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eIndian Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eJacobs sought to preserve the character and directness of traditional storytelling while making folklore accessible to younger readers. \u003cem\u003eCeltic Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e was the first of his two major collections devoted to Celtic tradition and brought together twenty-six stories drawn largely from earlier Irish, Scottish and Welsh sources. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe illustrator:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn Dickson Batten (1860–1932) was a British painter, printmaker and book illustrator closely associated with the Arts and Crafts movement and the golden age of book illustration. His work for Jacobs is immediately recognizable for its intricate pen-and-ink line, decorative borders, stylized lettering and strong medieval and Celtic Revival influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eBatten’s illustrations are an essential part of the character of \u003cem\u003eCeltic Fairy Tales\u003c\/em\u003e. Particularly striking are the full-page designs for \u003cem\u003eThe Sea-Maiden\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eConnla and the Fairy Maiden\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eDeirdre\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Wooing of Olwen\u003c\/em\u003e, alongside the numerous smaller illustrations and elaborate initials integrated throughout the text.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MFLIBRA - Antique Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49124530422009,"sku":null,"price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/3348\/files\/20260921celticfairy_01.jpg?v=1789998340","url":"https:\/\/mflibra.com\/products\/1895-rare-book-celtic-fairy-tales-by-j-jacobs-illustrated-by-john-d-batten","provider":"MFLIBRA - Antique Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}