Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales Vintage Children's Book Beautifully Illustrated Fairytales

Kitty's Notes:

If you love the old fairytale stories such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Tin Soldier" this book goes beyond the more commonly known tales and offers a broad collection of Hans Christian Andersen's magical children's stories.

Some of these original old fairy tales are much darker than the sanitized 'Ladybird Book' style versions or modern children's books, and the language is much more archaic, so of course discretion is needed if you want to read them as bedtime stories.

Having made it through the end of the 2nd World War Period in England this book is a wonderful nostalgic edition of the classic old fairy tales by Hans Andersen that are presented here, true to the early translations from his native Danish tongue.

The book is superbly illustrated by Helen Stratton a talented female artist who followed in the tradition of the Glasgow School and was strongly inspired by the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movement who ended her days in the wonderful English city of Bath, Jane Austen country.

Book Excerpt from "Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales"

"FAR, far away, in a country whither the Swallows fly in our winter-time, there dwelt a King who had eleven sons and one daughter, the beautiful Elise. The eleven brothers went to school with stars on their breasts and swords by their sides ; they wrote on golden tablets with diamond pens, and could read either with a book or without one. In short, it was easy to perceive that they were princes.

Their sister Elise used to sit upon a little glass stool, and had a picture- book which had cost the half of a kingdom. Oh, the children were so happy! But happy they were not to remain always. Their mother was dead, and their father the King married a very wicked Queen, who was not at all kind to the poor children.

They found this out on the first day after the marriage, when there was a grand gala at the palace ; for when the children played at receiving company, instead of letting them have as many cakes and sweetmeats as they liked, the Queen gave them only some sand in a little dish, and told them to imagine that it was something nice.

The week after, she sent the little Elise to be brought up by some peasants in the country, and it was not long before she told the King so many falsehoods about the poor Princes, that he would have nothing more to do with them. 'Away, out into the world, and take care of yourselves,' said the wicked Queen ; fly away in theform of great speechless birds.'... "

BOOK HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hardback
• Illustrated
• Collectable
• Vintage Fairy Tale Book

BOOK ERA:

• 1940's Vintage Children's Books

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Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875) is the author of "Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales".

Publisher: Blackie & Son Limited, London & Glasgow
Date: circa 1940
Edition: First thus in this edition.
Binding: Hardback
Dust Jacket: Yes by Helen Stratton

This attractive old fairytale book has been well-preserved and is in excellent, bright and fresh condition with just some light wear, rubbing and a few small tears to the very good - rarely found - dust jacket.

The green cloth binding is excellent overall with just the tiniest bit of barely perceptible rubbing to the very tips of the corners and top and bottom of spine,

The interior pages are all beautifully clean with the lovely soft paper that was used in the 1940's era. No foxing either interior or on the outer text block.

No graffiti or gift inscriptions of any kind.

All this children's book's illustrations are present.

Charming and attractive old fairytale book from the 1940's era. Lovely collectable edition with the original, usually lost, dust jacket.

Please remember this vintage book has been loved before and is not new condition is graded taking this into consideration.

*Vibrancy of item's photograph colours may vary due to your device screen or brightness settings.

SIZE: Height 22 cms x Width 16 cms x Depth 4.5 cms.
FORMAT: Hardback
PAGES: 380 pages

* Includes all the original colour plates.

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