1931 Scarce book -The Magic Wood Beyond the World by Margaret W. Tarrant

Author: Grace Rhys. Illustrated by Margaret W. Tarrant (color) and Megan Rhys (line drawings).
Title: The Magic Wood Beyond the World.
Publisher: London, Bombay, and Sydney: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., [circa 1931]. First thus. First issued under this new title.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8.75 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: 247 pages.
Binding: Attractive and good to very good publisher's original green cloth binding pictorially stamped in red, black, and pale blue with an elaborate illustration of a twisted tree, winding path, and smoking cottage; spine and front cover title in red and black. Rear board plain green cloth (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown, rear cover lightly soiled - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A rare find in any condition!
Content: Good content (tight, light foxing and staining throughout - as shown). 
Illustrations: Profusely illustrated with 4full-page color drawings by Margaret W. Tarrant, each delicately rendered in her signature fairy style, along with some charming line drawings by Megan Rhys throughout. All color plates are present. Illustrations are vivid and enchanting, matching the magical tone of the text.

Estimate: (Scarce with no or few other copies available for sale worldwide).

The book: The Magic Wood Beyond the World is a re-titled and expanded version of Grace Rhys's earlier 1918 fairy tale collection In Wheelabout and Cockalone, first issued under this new title in 1931. This delightful fantasy blends richly imaginative storytelling with mischievous goblins, charming woodland spirits, and whimsical adventures across sixteen distinct chapters. Set in the mythical “Wheelabout Wood,” the tales follow a cast of colorful characters including the impish Rabjibooli, who appears throughout as both comic relief and moral provocateur. With its blend of gentle humor and enchanting world-building, the work is a treasure of early 20th-century children's literature.

The author: Grace Rhys (1865–1929) was an Irish poet and author best known for her children's books and romantic fiction. She married fellow writer Ernest Rhys and became part of the London literary scene. The Magic Wood Beyond the World reflects her affinity for folklore and the mystical, offering a lighthearted, lyrical prose style grounded in the fairy tale tradition.

The illustrators:
Margaret Winifred Tarrant (1888–1959) was one of the most celebrated British illustrators of the early 20th century, widely recognized for her depictions of fairies, children, and fantasy scenes. Her watercolors lend a delicate ethereal beauty to Rhys’s stories.
Megan Rhys, likely a relative of the author, provides engaging and playful line drawings that bring added charm and whimsy to the text, complementing Tarrant’s color illustrations with a lighter visual rhythm.