1918 Rare First Edition - English Fairy Tales illustrated by Arthur Rackham
A beautiful 1918 First Edition of English Fairy Tales, retold by Flora Annie Steel and magnificently illustrated by Arthur Rackham, featuring 16 colour plates and numerous black-and-white illustrations, preserved in its original richly gilt-decorated red cloth binding.
Author: Flora Annie Steel.
Title: English Fairy Tales.
Illustrator: Arthur Rackham.
Publisher: London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1918.
Edition: First Edition. First Flora Annie Steel edition, illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Language: English.
Pages: ix, [1 blank], 341, [3] pages, including publisher's advertisement.
Size: 8.5 x 7 inches.
Binding: Very good original publisher's red cloth binding, with beautiful gilt lettering and pictorial decorations to the front board and spine. Top edge gilt. The spine has faded from its original red to a soft pink, as shown, while the front board retains its attractive red colour and bright gilt decoration. Light age-related wear, with a firm overall binding. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good, complete, with occasional scattered light foxing, including some foxing to the outer edges of the text block. The pages remain generally clean and well preserved, with the illustrations retaining their beautiful original colours.
Illustrations: Complete with all 16 colour plates by Arthur Rackham, including the frontispiece, together with numerous black-and-white illustrations throughout the text. Charming pictorial endpapers printed in green depict children surrounded by butterflies and other flying insects.
Estimate: $350–500 USD.
The book: First published in 1918, English Fairy Tales is a delightful collection of traditional British folklore, beautifully retold by Flora Annie Steel and brought to life through the extraordinary imagination of Arthur Rackham. The volume gathers some of England's most beloved fairy tales, including Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack the Giant-Killer, The Three Little Pigs, Tom Tit Tot, and The Story of the Three Bears, alongside lesser-known treasures of English storytelling. Steel's engaging retellings preserve the character, humour, and occasional darkness of these traditional narratives, introducing readers to a world of giants, enchanted forests, magical transformations, clever children, and extraordinary adventures.
This First Edition is especially desirable for Rackham's magnificent illustrations. His 16 colour plates capture the whimsical, mysterious, and sometimes unsettling atmosphere of the stories, while his numerous pen-and-ink drawings enrich the text throughout. From the wonderfully expressive bears gathered around their porridge to formidable giants, mischievous creatures, and enchanted landscapes, Rackham's distinctive artistry transforms this collection into a remarkable example of Golden Age children's book illustration. The original red cloth binding, elegant gilt decorations, and delightful pictorial endpapers further enhance the appeal of this handsome volume.
The author: Flora Annie Steel (1847–1929) was a British novelist and folklorist whose literary career was profoundly influenced by the twenty-two years she spent in British India. Fascinated by oral storytelling and local traditions, she collected and preserved folk narratives, publishing Tales of the Punjab in 1894. Her experiences also inspired several novels, including On the Face of the Waters (1896), set against the background of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
In English Fairy Tales, Steel turned her attention to the traditional stories of her native country, adapting them with the same sensitivity to folklore and storytelling that characterized her earlier work. Her lively prose and appreciation for the rhythms of oral tradition make this collection an enduring contribution to children's literature.
The illustrator: Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was one of the most celebrated British book illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration. Renowned for his extraordinary draughtsmanship, delicate watercolours, and imaginative interpretations of fairy tales and fantasy literature, he illustrated many of the period's most beloved books, including Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
His work is instantly recognizable for its intricate linework, expressive figures, atmospheric landscapes, and wonderfully imaginative creatures. Rackham possessed a remarkable ability to balance the whimsical with the unsettling, capturing the essential spirit of traditional folklore. His illustrations for English Fairy Tales beautifully demonstrate these qualities, making this First Edition a particularly appealing addition to a collection of illustrated children's classics.