About this Item
1903 at ttile page. 6 1/4" x 7 5/8" uniquely compact, thick design. Dark plum (purplish brown) full cloth boards, elaborate gilt cover and spine design, titles, moderate shelf, corner wear, rub, edge wear. Ornate gilt cover design of angelic petal winged femme with sceptre as wand releasing petals from other hand, over crescent moon with dentelle flourishing borders listing illustrators. Crisp spine titles and vignettes of rose with leaves matching four corners of cover. Matte geometric patterned plum endpapers. Fine color frontispiece with tissue guard: "Littledom Castle by Hugh Thomson R. I." Pages very good; no writing. Internally neat, clean, bright and tight. Bright gilt text block at all sides. Full-page illustrations throughout. Some of the earliest and most detailed imagery of Arthur Rackham on display in the first tale, Littledom Castle, with indications of his developing talents. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Features a preface by Mister M.H. Spielmann lauding his mate's writing talent and assemblage, and the artistic inspirations and imagination brought by the artists. Published as part of the "Lilliput Library" for which a publisher?s catalogue is bound in at back. Rare sharp first edition of fine book craftsmanship. Contents: "Littledom Castle; His Majesty of the Sun; Ronald's Clock; Violet and the Doll-Fairy; A Regular Bouncer; Princess Reta of Regalia; Snowdrop's Tale; The Witch and the Jewelled Eggs; Muriel and the Fire-Ring; and, The Magic Garrett." Plentiful illustrations by such enchanting imagists as Hugh Thomson, Kate Greenaway, Arthur Rackham, Harry Furniss, Phil May, C. Wilhelm, Madame Ronner, Rosie Pitman, and Jessie M. King. Ten fantastic fairy stories illustrated by nine acclaimed artists from the golden age of gift books in the early twentieth century. Arthur Rackham is featured in the opening Littledom Castle with six full and three partial page designs. Unique mediums for Rackham here with cross thatch, etc. and a final silhouetted full-width tailpiece similar his later double page silhouette designs for Cinderella. Original drawings of A.R. include the classic of a giant Arthur Rackham holding candlestick for tiny knight. This illustration first appeared in Little Folks Magazine in 1902 for Littledom Castle and here in 1903. Numerous other vignettes in text by Carton Moore Park. Mabel Henrietta Spielmann (1862 - 1938) was a British author, married to art critic Marion Harry Spielmann. As well as several children's books, she wrote on the life and works of Charlotte Brontė and also on the history of art. Her works include: "The Rainbow Book, Littledom Castle, The Child of the Air, Margery Redford, and My Son and I." 377 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.
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