1874 Queer Folk by EH Knatchbull-Hugessen - Illustrated Antique Book

Here is a charming, antique copy of Queer Folk - Seven Stories by EH Knatchbull-Hugessen. Published in 1874 by Macmillan and Co. London. With superb black and white illustrated plates. Re-backed, and now in very good condition. More details below.

Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne (1829–1893), was a prominent British politician who "moonlighted" as a highly successful author of Victorian fairy tales. Despite his busy career as an MP and Under-Secretary of State, he published at least one collection of fantasy stories nearly every year between 1869 and the end of his life.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who wrote strictly moralistic tales, Knatchbull-Hugessen’s stories were noted for being "light and brilliant" while still containing a notable amount of violence and fantastical danger.

J.R.R. Tolkien explicitly cited Knatchbull-Hugessen as a significant childhood influence. He particularly remembered a story about an ogre that disguised itself as a tree to catch its dinner—a concept some scholars link to the inspiration for Ents or Old Man Willow.

He was the great-nephew of Jane Austen and edited the first major collection of her letters in 1884.

Contents: The Warlock of Coombe; The Witch of Ballaquoich; The Pig-Faced Queen; Little Grub; The Barn Elves; The Strange City; The Old Bachelor Married.

Inside the pages are clean and tightly bound. Spotting to endpapers and then mildly through the text, with the occasional faint brown blemish. Has an inked inscription to the front free endpaper dated 1873, but no other writing or markings of previous ownership. Toning to top edge. There should be six illustrated plates - there are six, but two are duplicates. So it has two plates which are the same and lacks one. All the illustrations are in very good condition.

Red-brown cloth backed boards have ornate black and gilt decoration to the front and spine. Has been re-backed and so is now very squarely and tightly bound. Original spine cloth re-laid (see photos), and keeping original endpapers. Gilt decoration remains bright and the illustrations charming.

Your antique copy of Queer Folk will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged with tracking and insurance. I am always happy to include a gift message in the parcel if desired.

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H 19 cm x W 13.5 cm, 357 pages, 0.55 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. (There are just a very few countries which I am unable to ship to).

* If you would prefer your book not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging please add a note to the order.

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