George Cruikshank's Fairy Library by George Cruikshank - ca. 1864

CRUIKSHANK, George. George Cruikshank's Fairy Library. Puss in Boots. Hop O' My Thumb. Jack & the Bean-stalk. Cinderella. London: Routledge, Warne, & Routledge (ca. 1864). 8vo, [143]pp: Title followed by 4 separately paginated volumes bound together: Puss in Boots 40pp; Hop O' My Thumb [iv] 30pp; Jack & the Beanstalk [ii] 32pp; Cinderella; [ii] 31pp. Red cloth pictorially stamped in gilt and blind. Cream endpapers; 24 b&w plates. Corners and spine ends lightly rubbed, two small indentations on foredge of rear cover (probably from having been strapped together with other volumes), slight soiling to covers, slight traces of handsoiling to a few leaves, else a clean, tight copy. Inscribed by the artist, George Cruikshank.

First edition, being a bind-up of four previously published fairy tales which were issued individually, each with its own green cardboard cover. A wonderful bind-up of some of Cruikshank's most joyful and exuberant work, featuring four classic fairy tales originally issued individually. The artwork demonstrates Cruikshank at some of his most masterful. However, Cruikshank's decision to rework the text of these stories – even going so far as to change the morals of the tales – earned him a rather disdainful letter from his previous collaborator Charles Dickens. This stunning presentation copy is a magnificent addition to any collection of George Cruikshank, fairy tales, Victorian children's books, or early illustrated materials.