1923 Rare First Edition - The Rose Fyleman Fairy Book Illustrated by H.T. Miller
A charming first American edition of Rose Fyleman’s beloved fairy poetry, beautifully illustrated by Hilda T. Miller with twelve enchanting colour plates and delicate black-and-white drawings.
Author: Rose Fyleman.
Title: The Rose Fyleman Fairy Book.
Publisher: New York: George H. Doran Company, 1923.
Edition: First American Edition.
Illustrator: Hilda T. Miller.
Language: English.
Pages: xiv, 103 pages.
Size: 9.5 x 7 inches.
Binding: Very good original bright orange cloth binding, with black lettering and a delightful pictorial vignette of a fairy riding a bird on the front board. Black lettering and butterfly decoration to the spine. Light wear to the extremities and slight fading to the spine. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content, clean and beautifully preserved, with light occasional age toning. Featuring charming pictorial endpapers illustrated with a delicate procession of dancing fairies.
Illustrations: Richly illustrated by Hilda T. Miller with twelve full-page colour plates, including the frontispiece, and twelve additional black-and-white illustrations. The enchanting artwork depicts fairies, woodland creatures, magical gardens, and whimsical scenes inspired by Fyleman’s poetry. Complete.
Estimate: USD 275–300.
The book: The Rose Fyleman Fairy Book (1923) is a delightful collection of fairy poetry from the golden age of children's book illustration. Bringing together some of Fyleman's most beloved verses, including "Fairies," "A Fairy Went A-Marketing," "The Fairy Flute," and "Fairies and Chimneys," the volume invites readers into a magical world where fairies dance beneath the moon, woodland creatures become companions, and the most ordinary corners of the garden conceal extraordinary wonders.
The book's enduring appeal lies equally in its poetry and its exquisite illustrations by Hilda T. Miller. Her twelve atmospheric colour plates, filled with graceful winged figures, delicate flowers, and richly imagined woodland scenes, beautifully capture the innocence and enchantment of Fyleman's verse. The striking orange pictorial binding and charming illustrated endpapers make this first American edition a particularly attractive addition to any collection of early twentieth-century children's literature and fairy illustration.
The author: Rose Fyleman (1877–1957) was an English poet, writer, and playwright celebrated for her imaginative children's poetry. She achieved widespread popularity with Fairies and Chimneys (1918), whose memorable opening poem, "Fairies," became one of the best-loved fairy verses of the twentieth century. Her subsequent collections, including The Fairy Green (1919), established her as an important voice in children's literature.
Fyleman's writing is distinguished by its musical simplicity, gentle humour, and remarkable ability to transform familiar surroundings into places of wonder. Her poems remain closely associated with the imaginative world of childhood and the literary tradition of English fairy folklore.
The illustrator: Hilda T. Miller (1877–1939) was a British artist and illustrator particularly admired for her delicate portrayals of fairies and imaginative subjects. Active primarily during the 1920s, she brought an elegant decorative sensibility to children's books, combining graceful compositions, intricate detail, and softly coloured fantasy landscapes. Her illustrations for The Rose Fyleman Fairy Book remain among her most appealing achievements.