Easy Reading for Little Readers

New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.; Griffith and Farran, Saint Paul's Churchyard, London. First Edition Presumed. Hardcover. Very Good. Harrison Weir, Kate Greenaway, J. S. Dalziel, Etc.. 4to. N.d., circa 1880s. 34 pp., + 3 pp of pub ad supp. Profusely illustrated in color. Illustrations are mostly of animals and accompany short tales and fables, some familiar from Aesop, others not so. The book essentially has three parts, although it is not officially so demarcated, and the middle section has what appears to be brief stories and illustrations reprinted from the 1830s or 1840s, with that era's style of dress, color, etc. The first and third sections, though, have illustrations by contemporary artists of the first rank, among them Weir and Greenaway. No one is credited on the title page but their contribution can be evinced in the signatures on many of the illustrations. Book measures 12 by 9 inches. Some minor loss to the illustrated sheet laid on the front board, but nothing of significance lost. Spine strip appears more recent and reapired expertly. Shelfwear to the edges and corners of the boards. Book tight and interior is clean. A very attractive copy of an extremely rare and charming children's book with contributions by major illustrators.