1913 Rare Book - In the Beginning, Genesis, Illustrated by Charles Robinson

A beautifully illustrated 1913 edition of In the Beginning, S. B. Macy’s retelling of the Book of Genesis for children, featuring 19 exquisite colour illustrations and 70 black-and-white drawings by Charles Robinson, in its striking original green cloth binding with wonderfully preserved gilt decorations.

Author: S. B. Macy.
Title: In the Beginning: Being the Book of Genesis Told to Children.
Publisher: London, New York, Bombay & Calcutta: Longmans, Green & Co., 1913.
Edition: Second Edition, New Impression. The first edition appeared in October 1908; the second edition, with minor textual corrections, was published in February 1913.
Introduction: The Bishop of London.
Illustrator: Charles Robinson.
Language: English.
Pages: 308 pages, followed by the publisher’s catalogue.
Size: 10 x 7 inches.
Binding: Very good original green cloth binding, beautifully decorated with an elaborate gilt angel and outstretched wings on the front cover, complemented by ornate gilt lettering and floral designs on the spine. The gilt remains remarkably bright and attractive, with light rubbing and minor signs of age and handling. Protected in a removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good, complete, with occasional light foxing and age toning. The colour illustrations remain beautifully preserved. The original blank endpapers were replaced by a previous owner as shown. Otherwise, a clean and appealing example.
Illustrations: Complete with 19 colour illustrations, including the frontispiece, and 70 additional illustrations in black and white by Charles Robinson. The volume also features an exceptionally decorative colour title page, ornamental borders, delicate angelic figures and numerous imaginative line drawings throughout.

Estimate: $175–250 USD.

The book: First published in 1908, In the Beginning presents the stories of the Book of Genesis in language intended to make them accessible and engaging for young readers. S. B. Macy leads children through the Creation, the Garden of Eden, Noah and the Flood, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, combining biblical narrative with gentle explanations and a conversational storytelling style. An introduction by the Bishop of London lends the volume an additional connection to the religious education of Edwardian England.

The book is particularly distinguished by its lavish presentation. Charles Robinson’s illustrations transform familiar biblical episodes into richly imagined scenes, moving between luminous visions of angels, idyllic landscapes and dramatic moments from the Old Testament. The colour plates are complemented by delicate pen-and-ink illustrations, while the elaborate title page and magnificent gilt-decorated binding make this a particularly attractive example of early twentieth-century illustrated book production.

The illustrator: Charles Robinson (1870–1937) was one of the most accomplished British book illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration. Born into a family of artists, he developed a distinctive style characterized by graceful figures, flowing lines, intricate ornamentation and a remarkable sensitivity to decorative composition. His work appeared in numerous celebrated children's books, including editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Secret Garden and works by Robert Louis Stevenson and Hans Christian Andersen.

In In the Beginning, Robinson brings his imaginative and decorative talents to biblical storytelling. His angels, flowing draperies, floral ornaments and carefully composed landscapes reveal the influence of Art Nouveau while retaining the warmth and accessibility of children's illustration. The combination of his atmospheric colour plates, delicate line drawings and beautifully designed binding makes this edition especially appealing to collectors of Charles Robinson and illustrated books from the Edwardian period.