Fairy Tales and Legends.

WHISTLER, Rex (illus.); ANDERSEN, Hans Christian.

Published by London: Cobden-Sanderson Ltd, 1935

First Whistler edition, signed limited issue, one of 200 copies signed by the artist on the half-title and bound in gilt-decorated white cloth. This enchantingly illustrated edition of Andersen's classic fairy tales has been described as among Whistler's finest productions. The book's external beauty alone is such that a copy was carried by Lady Elizabeth von Hofmannsthal (née Paget) during her wedding and "assumed to be a splendid prayer book" by spectators (Whistler, p. 192). For this work, Whistler proposed a novel technique in book illustration: "White scraperboard, intended for commercial artists, on which you could paint with indian ink and then scrape off, for an effect like a wood engraving. Presently he was using brushed ink in various tones to produce what may be roughly described as a painting with scratched highlights, his own invention, and very lively in his hands" (Whistler, p. 192). Whistler & Fuller 475. Laurence Whistler, The Laughter and the Urn: The Life of Rex Whistler, 1985. Octavo. Vignette title page, 10 scraperboard plates, further illustrations in the text. Original white cloth elaborately in gilt design by Whistler, pink patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Postcard with photograph of Rex Whistler by Cecil Beaton loosely inserted. Spine toned, gilt bright, contents clean. A very good copy. Seller Inventory # 194677

Bibliographic Details

Title: Fairy Tales and Legends.
Publisher: London: Cobden-Sanderson Ltd, 1935
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
Edition: 1st Edition