1915 Rare Book - Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know by Mary Hamilton Frye

Author: Edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie. Mary Hamilton Frye, illustrator.
Title: Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know.
Publisher: Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1915.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5" x 7".
Pages: v-266 pages.
Binding: Attractive and near fine original red publisher’s cloth binding with white-stamped lettering to the spine and upper cover, featuring a mounted color plate (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover. Preserved in the original matching red storage box in good condition (small chips and one corner repaired by a previous owner ), a rare survival.
Content: Near fine condition. Internally fresh, clean, and tightly bound. Includes the publisher’s original tissue-guarded color frontispiece. No marks of previous ownership.
Illustrations: Fully illustrated by Mary Hamilton Frye with a color frontispiece, seven additional full-page color illustrations, and charming black-and-white vignettes. All plates present and in excellent condition.

Estimate: (USD 400–500).

The book: A stunning 1915 edition of Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know, part of the beloved “Every Child Should Know” series. This anthology brings together timeless fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, George MacDonald, and others. This particular edition is notable not only for its elegant design and preservation in its original box, but also for the delightful color illustrations by Mary Hamilton Frye, which enrich the magical atmosphere of the tales.

The author: Hamilton Wright Mabie (1846–1916) was an American essayist, editor, and critic. He is best known for curating and adapting classic literature for younger readers, especially through the “Every Child Should Know” series, which aimed to make essential world literature accessible and enjoyable for children.

The illustrator: Mary Hamilton Frye was an early 20th-century illustrator whose refined and graceful style perfectly suited the fairy tale genre. Her work is characterized by clear lines, soft color palettes, and a narrative quality that captures the emotional tone of each story. Her contribution to this edition remains one of its greatest artistic strengths.