Description

Here is a 1st edition of Prince Silverwings and Other Fairy Tales, the book that was the inspiration for an uncompleted 1903 play by L. Frank Baum. Copyright 1902 by McClurg & Co, written by Edith Ogden Harrison and illustrated by Lucy Fitch Perkins. First edition with Published Oct 11, 1902 on the copyright page and 1902 on title page (later printings are identified with different dates). Oversized, 123 pages, with four amazing full color plates. This copy has a 1902 gift inscription to Gladys and Gertrude Hildreth–Gertrude Hildreth went on to obtain her PhD from Columbia in 1925, she developed the Metropolitan Readiness Tests, and she was a fellow of the American Psychological Association.

The book has a gorgeous blue, green and silver illustrated cover with a silver fairy on the spine. Cover has light soiling but is still very attractive; the spine lettering and silver fairy image are still beautiful, light wear to top of spine, bottom of spine has some tearing–see image. Corners are worn. Inside, the hinges are intact, with crack at title page, with frontispiece almost detached and other plates appear to have been reinserted, with some wear/soiling to edges. Small publisher’s advertisement for the book tipped in opposite half-title. Not perfect, but plates often missing in this title, rare to find the 1902 edition with all four. Text pages in good shape with some finger soiling. All in all, a venerable copy in good plus condition overall.