1920 - Old French Fairy Tales by Comtesse DeSegur illustrated by Virginia Frances Sterrett

 

Author : Comtesse De Segur | Virginia Frances Sterrett (Illustrator).
Title : Old French Fairy Tales. Illustrated by Virginia Frances Sterrett.
Publisher : Philadelphia, The Penn Publishing Company,  no date (c1920). First Edition.
Language : Text in English
Size : 11" X 9 "
Pages : 279 pages
Binding : Attractive and very good original cloth binding (overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content :Very good content (first and last inner hinge worn but still tight - as shown, name and 1930 date from a previous owner on first and last endpaper, rare foxing and staining). 
Illustrations : Complete with the announced frontis (color) and 16 illustrations (8 in color). 

Estimate: (USD 350 - USD 550 )

The book : Attractive and rare first edition of the Old French Fairy Tales beautifully illustrated by Virginia Frances Sterrett. A rare find in any condition! 

The illustrator : Virginia Frances Sterrett (1900–1931) was an American artist and illustrator. Sterrett received her first commission at the age of 19 (shortly after she was diagnosed with tuberculosis) from the Penn Publishing Company to illustrate Old French Fairy Tales (1920), a collection of works from the 19th-century French author, Comtesse de Ségur (Sophie Fedorovna Rostopchine).
A year after the publication of Old French Fairy Tales, a new title including commissioned works from Sterrett was presented by the Penn Publishing Company—Tanglewood Tales (1921). From 1923, in failing health, Sterrett was able to work on projects for short periods of time only and as a result, she was able to complete just one further commission prior to her death—her own interpretation of Arabian Nights (1928). Her best-known work is the suite of illustrations for Arabian Nights (1928). She died of tuberculosis

The author : Sophie Rostopchine, Countess of Ségur, born Sofiya Feodorovna Rostopchina (Russian: Софья Фёдоровна Ростопчина; 1 August 1799 in Saint Petersburg – 8 February 1874 in Paris), was a French writer of Russian birth and origin. She is best known today for her novel Les Malheurs de Sophie (Sophie's misfortunes), intended for children.