1897 Rare Book - Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales for the Young, Illustrated

Author: Hans Andersen. Translated by Mrs. H. B. Paull.
Title: Andersen’s Tales for the Young.
Publisher: London and New York, Frederick Warne and Co., 1897.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7 x 5 inches.
Pages: vi + 255 pages.
Binding: Near fine publisher’s original blue cloth binding, decoratively stamped in black with gilt lettering to the upper cover and spine (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Upper edge gilt. An attractive and very well-preserved example.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, an early prize label to front pastedown dated 1898 - as shown, one lower outer corner of page 109 professionally repaired by a previous owner - as shown). A solid and pleasing copy.
Illustrations: Complete with four full-page original black-and-white illustrations.

Estimate: (USD 200–250).

The book: A charming late Victorian edition of Andersen’s timeless fairy tales, gathering many of his most beloved stories including The Little Match Girl, The Snow Man, and The Brave Tin Soldier, here presented in a refined and decorative publisher’s binding typical of Frederick Warne’s juvenile productions of the period; enhanced throughout with delicate black-and-white illustrations that echo the emotional depth and quiet melancholy of Andersen’s narratives, this copy remains particularly appealing for its bright cloth and preserved gilt, offering a fine example of a classic children’s book that continues to resonate with both collectors and readers.

The author: Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was a Danish author and poet whose fairy tales have become some of the most widely translated and beloved works in world literature; blending folklore, imagination, and profound emotional insight, his stories—such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes—transcend their origins as children’s tales to explore themes of identity, suffering, and transformation, securing Andersen’s place as one of the foundational figures of modern storytelling.