1907 The Olive Fairy Book - First Edition - Illustrated

In very good condition, here is an elegant first edition copy of The Olive Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang and part of the coloured Fairy Book series. A beautiful collection of fairy tales. Scarce and highly sought-after, these are becoming increasingly hard to get hold of.

Originally published in 1907, this copy is one of those first editions by Longmans, Green and Co., London. It has the charming illustration of a flying fairy on the front in gilt. Richly illustrated with eight colour plates and numerous illustrations by HJ Ford (see photos).

Lang had grown up with a love of myths and fables and towards the end of the 1880s he began to collect and publish some of his favourite tales. The Blue Fairy Book, was the result, published in 1889 it met with great critical acclaim. The Red Fairy book appeared in Christmas of the following year. Lang went on to produce a series of twelve collections of fairy tales, published between 1889 and 1910. Each volume is distinguished by its own colour. In all, 437 tales from a broad range of cultures and countries are presented. The Olive Fairy Book includes unusual stories from Turkey, India, Denmark, Armenia, the Sudan, and the pen of Anatole France.

Inside the pages are clean and bright. With one folded corner tip. The book opens onto illustrated endpapers. The paper has cracked open on the rear hinge to reveal webbing beneath (see photos), but in no way effecting the binding which is good and strong. There is then an inked inscription on the front half-title page but no other writing or markings of previous ownership. All of the colour plates are present as called for. The outside edges are shiny gilt.

Pale olive-green cloth over boards have the gilt decoration and titles to the front and spine. Just a couple of light marks to the rear board, and some very slight bowing - but both of these are minor. The gilt decoration has remained in super condition and this is a beautiful book.

Your first edition copy of The Olive Fairy Book 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, 336 pages, 0.62 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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