Irish Fairy Tales
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1920.
First American Edition, 1st Printing. Hardcover. "In truth we do not go to Faery, we become Faery, and in the beating of a pulse we may live for a year or a thousand years. But when we return the memory is quickly clouded, and we seem to have had a dream or seen a vision, although we have verily been in Faery." Allow the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his magical hounds, Bran and Sceólang, stamped in shining gilt to the front cover, to guard and guide you on your journey through medieval Ireland's dark and enchanted forests and far into the wild lands of Faery...This 1920 first American edition of James Stephens' Irish Fairy Tales comes illustrated throughout in a decorative title page, numerous chapter headings, and a tissue-guarded frontispiece and 15 rich and bewitching color plates by the great Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), hero of the Golden Age of Illustration.
8 1/8" X 6". [vi], 318pp. Presents nicely in protective archival jacket. Bound in deep forest green cloth over boards, with hero Fionn mac Cumhaill with his magical hounds, Bran and Sceólang stamped in bright gilt to upper board, and upper board and spine lettered in gilt. Moderate wear to binding, with rubbing to edges, slight lean to darkened spine, small open tears to rubbed corners and to head and tail of spine, a couple of small spots of heavy rubbing to cloth. Small archival adhesive reinforcement to head of spine. Some faint spots to edges of text block and small black scuff mark to bottom edge. Binding is firm and sound, hinges strong. Early owner's knight-and-steed bookplate to front pastedown and name, dated 1923, to front endpapers. Occasional spot of foxing or stray smudge, else pages clean and unmarked. A very handsome first American printing of these classic Irish fairy tales, retold by James Stephens and gorgeously illustrated throughout in a decorative title page, numerous chapter headings, and 16 tissue-guarded color plates by Arthur Rackham. Very good. Item #17619
Price: $425.00