1902 The Reign of King Oberon - Illustrated by Charles Robinson

In excellent condition, here is a beautiful antique hardback copy of The Reign of King Oberon. Being a first edition, published in 1902 by JM Dent & Co., London in their True Annals of Fairyland series. Considered a notable work from the Golden Age of illustration. Richly illustrated throughout by Charles Robinson, a master of the Art Nouveau style. These depict magical creatures and the kingdoms of fairyland. This copy is filled with line drawn illustrations, often in ornate decorative borders. With superb illustrated boards, colour frontispiece and title page also. An exceptionally clean, bright and square copy. Definitely the best one I have seen.

*At time of listing I also have a matching copy of The Reign of King Cole (see final photo). *

The Reign of King Oberon is a collection of classic fairy tales from various cultures, unified by a narrative frame that explores the magical kingdom of Fairyland. The book begins with a conflict between King Oberon and Queen Titania over a "changeling" boy (a human child stolen by fairies). Oberon wants the boy to be one of his knights, while Titania insists on keeping him as her page. Their bitter quarrel causes the fairies to neglect their duties, leading to withered crops and chaotic weather in the human world. The royal couple eventually reconcile, leading to a grand assembly of fairies at Oberon's court where they entertain one another by telling stories.

The volume serves as an anthology of diverse folklore and fairy tales, including:
Classic Fairy Tales: "Cinderella" (The Little Glass Shoe) and "Thumbeline".
Norse Mythology: Stories featuring the dwarf Allwise and the trickster god Loki.
European Folklore: Tales such as "The Water of Life," "The Troll’s Hammer," and "East of the Sun and West of the Moon".
Literary Fairy Tales: Works by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm

Inside the pages are in excellent condition. Opens onto decorative endpapers. With an inked inscription to the front free endpaper. All edges are gilt - the top edge mildly scuffed.

With decoration to the boards front and back, and to spine. Accented in gilt. Again in top order. Just the very slightest of rubbing/rounding to the edges and spine ends. The spine has tanned a little in comparison to the boards. A very attractive book indeed.

Your antique copy of The Reign of King Oberon will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to include a gift card with a message.

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H 19 cm x W 14 cm, 338 pages, 0.51 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 for your book not to be decoratively wrapped and sent simply in the full packaging please add a note to the order.

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