Barnen på Solbacka | Elsa Beskow | Third Edition | Early 1900s | Art Nouveau

Barnen på Solbacka [The Children at Solbacka]. Third Edition. Stockholm: Wahlström & Widstrand, undated, probably early 1900s. Large-format Swedish children's picture book by Elsa Beskow (1874–1953), one of the pioneers of Scandinavian children's book illustration. A particularly attractive early edition of one of Beskow's earliest books. Barnen på Solbacka was originally published in 1898. The present copy is clearly marked “Tredje uppl.” (Third Edition) on the front board and is therefore not the 1898 first edition. The dating of this third edition deserves some explanation. The illustrated title page retains the date 1898, together with the wording “Ritade af Elsa Beskow f. Maartman” and the imprint of Lit. Centraltryckeriet, Stockholm. The 1898 date relates to the original publication/design and should not be interpreted as the printing date of this Third Edition. No separate publication year is stated for this issue. Based on the early edition sequence and available bibliographical evidence, this Third Edition can reasonably be placed in the early 20th century, although an exact year has not been established. An especially appealing feature is the early credit “Elsa Beskow f. Maartman” (née Maartman), appearing on both the illustrated front board and title page. Beautifully illustrated throughout with Beskow's characteristic early images of children, gardens, flowers, animals, games and life at Solbacka. The large colour illustrations have a particularly decorative Art Nouveau / Jugend character, with floral borders and ornamental details. Publisher: Wahlström & Widstrand, Stockholm Edition: Third Edition (“Tredje uppl.”) Date: Undated; probably early 1900s First published: 1898 First edition: No – this is the Third Edition Illustrator: Elsa Beskow, née Maartman Binding: Original illustrated boards with red cloth spine Size: 30 × 21.5 cm (height × width) Language: Swedish Illustrations: Large colour illustrations throughout Condition Good. A sound and attractive copy considering the age and fragile nature of an early children's picture book. The book is straight and firmly held together. Original illustrated front board remains very decorative, with expected rubbing, edge and corner wear. Red cloth spine preserved with some wear. Internally, the colour illustrations are generally in remarkably nice condition, retaining attractive and vivid colours. No ownership inscription, scribbling or colouring. Important condition note: the final illustrated plate is considerably more worn than the others and has damage including paper loss, as shown in the photographs. This is the principal defect of the book. The remaining plates are substantially better preserved. Despite this fault, a very appealing example of an early Third Edition of one of Elsa Beskow's earliest picture books, retaining its original decorative binding and the scarce early “f. Maartman” attribution. Keywords: Elsa Beskow, Barnen på Solbacka, Children at Solbacka, Third Edition, early Elsa Beskow, Swedish children's book, Scandinavian children's literature, Art Nouveau, Jugend, picture book, illustrated children's book, Wahlström & Widstrand, Maartman, antique children's book, Swedish illustration.…