THE STORY OF THE SWORD. A BOOK FOR BOYS.

First Edition. Hardback. 8vo. pp 235. Frontis and 9 highly attractive illustrations by GWC Hutchinson slightly gothic in style and reminiscent of Frank Pape. The C stood for Caldwell and he was an art master at Clifton College who Illustrated other books and published a book on how to draw in 1892. Talbot Sydenham Peppin also edited a boy's version of the Odyssey and translated from Livy and Vergil. He was probably a Classics schoolmaster. 'The Story of the Sword' is a juvenile historical fiction with strong fantasy elements. Not in BLEILER. The publisher's own retained copy with their stamp on fep reading 'file copy.' Rare. Eps slightly browned, very good indeed. Excellent condition. Original publisher's green cloth lettered gilt and decorated gilt at the spine, front cover has b/w vignette with title interwoven. From a review in the London Standard 15/12/1902 ÒEven Jack the Giant Killer scarcely hsd such miraculous adventures as the Jck in this narrative of magic and marvel. To possess an aunt with one tooth which, besides being very long and sharp, has a weird habit of moving in Its owner's mouth, is in itself strange enoogh. But this was quite the least of the astonishing things that befall Jack, who, thanks to a wonderful sword that used to jump out of its master's hand and hack murderously-inclined persons to pieces, came out of all his conflicts without a scratch. As a lover of adventure. Jack had the inestimable advantage of living in a part of the country infested, to a remsrkable degree,with strange beasts, hairy specimens of wild men. and red and black necromancersof a horrible degree of wickedness. He and his little friend Hubert, wno had also been fortunate enough to find a dagger of wonderful properties, had a most enjoyable time, making things generally unpleasant for these unconventional neighbours. Tne book, with its antique flavour and its constant references to what the Ancient Records contained about Jack's doings, is very creditably done ; and not the least part of the credit is due to the work of the illustrator (whose illustrations are) both appropriate and artistic.Ó THE STORY OF THE SWORD T. S. PEPPI ILLUSTRATED GWC HUTCHINSON.…