Prince Goldenblade: A Rational Fairy Tale for Big and Little Folks

Published by Ward, Lock and Co., 1889

  • First Edition
  • Hardcover
  • Used
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Seller: Robert Eldridge, Bookseller, Elizabethtown, NY, U.S.A.Robert Eldridge, Bookseller

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AbeBooks seller since June 6, 2017

Hardcover

Condition: Used - Good

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Item description from seller

Campbell, Gilbert. Prince Goldenblade: A Rational Fairy Tale for Big and Little Folks. London, New York, and Melbourne: Ward, Lock and Co., 1889. First edition. Octavo, pp. [i-viii] [1] 2-159 [160: decorative device] [161-184: publishers ads] [note: the "12" at base of first page of ads may indicate the month of printing, which, according to Topp (see below) was December]. Original dark blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in black, red, green, light green and light blue, publisher ads on endpapers. Illustrated with line drawings for each chapter, plus a frontispiece, by R. André. The first blank page has a contemporary gift inscription. A generally good copy of this uncommon book, the bottom corner of the front board diagonally creased but holding firm, small damp stain to upper corner of same, rubbing to spine ends, but with a tight square binding and clean interior. #151. $100. A charming novella that gently mocks the tone of the fairy tale genre while adhering to its structural principles. Campbell's main comic device is the deliberate anachronism, introducing mundane details of contemporary British life into the framework of a generically medieval fairy tale. The main fantastic device here is the periodic theriomorphy of its three heroes -- as the result of a curse. The story is, for the most part, genuinely amusing in a casual, unforced manner, even as it hits the necessary notes of the fairy tale genre. It also adds a few moments of shadowy alarm. During their periods of enchantment, not only do the aristocratic heroes change form, but they also lose all of their possessions and habitations. Campbell wrote popular fiction in several genres, including mystery, adventure and supernatural thrillers. In the latter field he is best remembered now for the three-volume Wild and Weird, Tales of Imagination and Mystery, Russian, English and Italian (issued also by Ward, Lock in the same year as the present volume). He also made the first English translations of Emile Gaboriau, 'thus introducing the modern detective novel to England' (Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, p. 101). All of his work, which appeared mostly in a burst of a few productive years around 1890, is now uncommon and is unrepresented in the collections of Sadleir, Wolff and Locke. Topp (Victorian Yellowbacks and Paperbacks, vol. II, p. 328) notes a later undated edition of this present title.…

Seller Inventory # 151

Bibliographic details

Title
Prince Goldenblade: A Rational Fairy Tale for Big and Little Folks
Author
Campbell, Gilbert
Publisher
Ward, Lock and Co.
Publication year
1889
Condition
Good
Dust jacket
No Jacket
Binding
Hardcover
Illustrator
Illustrated with line drawings for each chapter, plus a frontispiece, by R. André
Edition
1st Edition

Robert Eldridge, Bookseller

Elizabethtown, NY, U.S.A.

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 6, 2017

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Store description

When I began my bookselling business in 1996 I called it "Eldritch Books" because that adjective at least partly covered the type of material I offered (and because its similarity to my own surname seemed so -- eldritch). "Ghost stories" would be another handy, if somewhat reductive, term. Most of it is fiction from the 19th and early 20th century with a strong emphasis on the fantastic. Since the most familiar and relevant genre terms in use today -- "science fiction," "fantasy," "supernatural," "horror" -- were not so much in use when these books were first published, pegging them that way can be anachronistic. But that should give you the general idea. I don't have much in the way of American pulp (either in magazine or specialty press book form) but otherwise my interests range widely from high-brow to middle-brow to low-brow to amateur/eccentric. You're more likely to find rare and obscure works here than high spots. (Or at least they're obscure now, whatever their status was when first published.) In 2001 I went to work for L. W. Currey as cataloguer and general assistant. Since 2014 I've been back working on my own. I have exhibited at convention fairs (such as WFC and Readercon) in the past. I began collecting and studying antiquarian fantasy around 1980. Some of my essays have appeared in genre publications such as NYRSF, Wormwood and F&SF. I tend to carefully research my inventory and write extensive notes. (If another dealer wishes to make use of any of these notes, I'd appreciate the courtesy of putting such excerpts in quotes and giving proper attribution to me. That's what I do when I quote from any of my reference works.) I will be gradually listing my inventory on ABE over the coming years. I hope you find something of interest. …

Specialty

fantasy, supernatural and science fiction, 19th and early 20th century literature

Seller's business information

Robert Eldridge, Bookseller

NY, U.S.A.