1895 Rare Book - The Brownies and Other Tales by Juliana Horatio Ewing
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Author: Juliana Horatio Ewing. Illustrated by George Cruikshank.
Title: The Brownies and Other Tales.
Publisher: New York, Hurst & Company, no date (1895).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 6" x 4.5".
Pages: 194 pages.
Binding: Very good to near fine original publisher’s red cloth binding, richly decorated in silver on the spine and front board. The rear board is plain red (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A beautiful presentation copy.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing - as shown, neat pencil inscription on the front blank endpaper: "Laura from Auntie, Christmas 1896" - as shown.).
Illustrations: Complete with 4 full-page illustrations by George Cruikshank, including detailed scenes from The Brownies, Christmas Crackers, and Amelia and the Dwarfs.
The book: A delightful Victorian children’s book by the beloved Juliana Horatio Ewing, featuring her enduring story The Brownies—which inspired the name of the junior Girl Scout movement. This edition also collects other charming and moral tales like The Land of Lost Toys, Three Christmas Trees, and Amelia and the Dwarfs. Elegantly illustrated by George Cruikshank, this decorative edition would have been a treasured holiday gift, as its 1896 inscription confirms. A fine example of late 19th-century gift-book publishing with strong visual and literary appeal.
The author: Juliana Horatio Ewing (1841–1885) was one of the most respected writers of children’s literature in Victorian England. Daughter of a clergyman, her stories often reflected Christian values, humor, and a deep understanding of children’s inner worlds. The Brownies became one of her most popular stories, and she was praised by contemporaries such as E. Nesbit and Rudyard Kipling.
The illustrator: George Cruikshank (1792–1878) was one of the most significant illustrators of the 19th century, famous for his work with Charles Dickens, particularly on Oliver Twist. His style combined sharp caricature, lively composition, and moral commentary—well suited for both children’s books and political satire. In The Brownies and Other Tales, his illustrations add expressive energy and visual narrative, enhancing the reader’s experience of Ewing’s tales.