1993 Scarce First Edition - How to See Fairies by Charles van Sandwyk
Author: Charles van Sandwyk.
Title: How to See Fairies.
Publisher: North Vancouver, The Fairy Press, no date (1993). The first edition, first printing, is identified by a burgundy card wrap with no writing under the Fairy Press logo. Limited edition of 1000 copies.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 6.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: Unpaginated.
Binding: Fine original pictorial card covers, hand-stitched as issued. The distinctive marbled green wrappers feature an enchanting color illustration on the front cover and the Fairy Press device on the rear cover. Original decorative turn-ins present. An exceptionally well-preserved example of one of van Sandwyk's most sought-after early publications.
Content: Fine content. Bright, tight, and remarkably clean throughout. No ownership inscriptions or markings noted. A beautiful copy retaining the freshness and charm so often lacking in these delicate Fairy Press productions.
Illustrations: Complete with all the delightful color and black-and-white illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk, including numerous full-page and double-page illustrations executed in his distinctive fairy-tale style.
Estimate: (USD 500–650).
The book: One of the most beloved and elusive of Charles van Sandwyk's early Fairy Press productions, How to See Fairies invites readers into a secret world inhabited by fairies, elves, talking mice, woodland spirits, and other enchanting creatures. Combining poetry, whimsical observations, and exquisite illustrations, the book reads like a field guide for dreamers, offering gentle instructions on how one might catch a glimpse of the fairy folk hidden just beyond ordinary sight.
Created before van Sandwyk achieved international recognition, this charming volume perfectly captures the qualities that would later make him one of the most admired contemporary illustrators working in the tradition of the great Golden Age artists. Every page reveals his remarkable ability to blend innocence, humor, fantasy, and artistic craftsmanship into a coherent and deeply personal vision.
Published in a limited edition of only 1,000 copies by The Fairy Press in North Vancouver, How to See Fairies has become one of the cornerstone titles sought by collectors of van Sandwyk's work. Its small format, hand-crafted appearance, and intimate production reflect the artisanal spirit that characterized his earliest publications and continue to distinguish them from later commercial editions.
Today, first printings remain highly desirable among collectors of modern illustrated books, fairy literature, and the works of Charles van Sandwyk.
The author and illustrator: Charles van Sandwyk is a Canadian artist, author, and illustrator celebrated for his enchanting depictions of fairies, animals, and imaginary worlds. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1966, he emigrated to Canada as a child and later settled in British Columbia, where the forests, coastline, and wildlife became enduring sources of inspiration. Drawing influence from Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, and other masters of the Golden Age of Illustration, van Sandwyk developed a highly distinctive style that combines meticulous pen work, delicate watercolor, and a profound sense of wonder.
His early Fairy Press books, produced in small editions and often distributed locally, have become particularly sought after. In later years he gained international acclaim through numerous publications and celebrated collaborations with the Folio Society, whose editions helped introduce his work to a wider audience. Despite this broader recognition, collectors continue to prize the intimate charm and rarity of his original Fairy Press publications, among which How to See Fairies remains one of the most cherished.