The Rainbow and the Rose

London: Longmans, Green & Co, 1905. Hardcover. Very Good. Hardcover. First Edition. RARE PRESENTATION COPY. Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) was an English author and poet who is best known today for her children's books. Publishing under E. Nesbit, she wrote or collaborated on over sixty books for children. She was a follower of William Morris and one of the founders of the Fabian Society, the British socialist movement. This book is inscribed: "To Olindo Malagodi from E. Nesbit July 1905." Malagodi (1870-1934) was a prominent Italian liberal journalist and writer. He trained as a journalist in Britain, became the London correspondent for several newspapers, and eventually became the editor of La Tribuna in Rome. He was a close friend of Nesbit and her husband, Hubert Bland, eventually living near them as he raised his family. His son, Giovanni became an important Italian politician.

Bound in the original green cloth with lovely floral and fleur-de-lis design in gilt on front cover along with author and title. Light bumping and small light stain to top of rear cover; otherwise in beautiful condition. Front and rear endpapers are foxed but interior pages are bright and clean. Each section is preceded by a blank page with a flower illustration. Each flower is a different color. Nesbit's books of verse are uncommon and nearly impossible to find signed. 143 pages plus 4 pages of advertisements for Nesbit's books. POE/050611.