1916 Scarce First Edition - Fairy Tales and Legends of Burma (Myanmar) by Ward

Author: John Sebastian Marlowe Ward.
Title: Fairy Tales and Legends of Burma.
Publisher: Bombay, London and Glasgow, Blackie and Son Limited, 1916. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7 x 5 inches.
Pages: 157 pages, followed by publisher's catalogue.
Binding: Very good original publisher's light green cloth binding, lettered and decorated in black on the front cover and spine with an attractive Burmese-inspired design. Minor shelf wear and gentle rubbing to extremities consistent with age. A well-preserved example of this uncommon first edition. Protected in a removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good content. Internally clean and sound with light age toning throughout. Endpapers toned as shown. No ownership inscriptions noted. The text block remains fresh and highly readable, with the volume retaining its original charm and integrity.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with numerous black-and-white drawings depicting scenes from Burmese folklore, religious traditions, landscapes, temples, princes, animals, and legendary figures. The illustrations effectively complement the text and provide a vivid visual introduction to early twentieth-century Burma.

Estimate: (USD 250–450).

The book: First published in 1916, Fairy Tales and Legends of Burma is one of the earliest English-language collections devoted to the rich folklore of Burma, now Myanmar. Drawing upon oral traditions, Buddhist legends, village tales, and regional folklore, Ward gathered stories that had long circulated among Burmese storytellers, monks, and performers. The collection includes tales of princes, magical creatures, wise rulers, talking animals, sacred lakes, and moral adventures deeply rooted in Buddhist culture. Written during the final decades of British colonial rule, the book preserves traditions that were largely unfamiliar to Western readers and remains an important contribution to the literature of Southeast Asian folklore. First editions are increasingly difficult to locate, particularly in such well-preserved original condition.

The author: John Sebastian Marlowe Ward (1879–1948) was an English scholar, educator, historian, and writer with wide-ranging interests in religion, folklore, mythology, and comparative culture. During his years in Burma, where he served as Principal of the Diocesan Boys' High School in Rangoon, he developed a deep appreciation for Burmese traditions and collected many of the stories that appear in this volume. Ward later became known for his writings on symbolism, esoteric traditions, and cultural history, but Fairy Tales and Legends of Burma remains one of his most enduring and charming works, offering a rare window into the imaginative world of Burmese folklore.