1922 Scarce Book - Fairy Tales with 48 Coloured Plates By Margaret W. Tarrant

Author: Edited by Harry Golding. Illustrated by Margaret W. Tarrant.
Title: Fairy Tales. With 48 Colour Plates by Margaret W. Tarrant.
Publisher: London, Melbourne and Toronto, Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, [circa 1922].
Language: Text in English. 
Size: 8 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: 403 pages + publisher's catalog.
Binding: Attractive and very good publisher’s original grey cloth binding with decorative black borders and titling to spine and front board. A full-color pictorial onlay of Little Red Riding Hood adorns the front cover (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A rare find in any condition!
Content: Good content (bright, tight, some light foxing, toning and staining - as shown).
Illustrations: Lavishly illustrated with 48 full-page color plates by Margaret W. Tarrant, including a frontispiece (Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother). The illustrations capture key fairy tale moments with ethereal delicacy and expressive charm. Each plate retains excellent color vibrancy. Highlights include images from Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots, and Beauty and the Beast.

The book: A delightful and expansive fairy tale anthology featuring timeless stories such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Bluebeard, Snowdrop and the Seven Little Men, and many more. This edition is notable for the breadth of tales it includes and for its generous suite of color illustrations by Margaret W. Tarrant. Tarrant’s illustrations, with their soft palettes and innocent warmth, elevate the traditional narratives into dreamlike, nostalgic worlds that capture the imagination of children and collectors alike. A standout volume among early 20th-century fairy tale publications.

The author: Harry Golding (1870–1955) was an editor and compiler of numerous children’s books and educational works during the early 20th century, often collaborating with gifted illustrators. His editorial vision brought together accessible retellings of classic stories with beautiful visuals, aiming to educate and entertain.

The illustrator: Margaret Winifred Tarrant (1888–1959) was one of the most beloved British illustrators of the early 20th century. Known for her tender, whimsical depictions of childhood, fairies, and fantasy scenes, her watercolor illustrations became iconic in children’s publishing. Her work for Fairy Tales stands as a major achievement in visual storytelling and remains highly collectible today.