THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK by Lang, Andrew - 1894

1894. With Numerous Illustrations by H.J. Ford. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1894. 2 pp undated ads. Original yellow cloth pictorially decorated in gilt, all page edges gilt. First Edition of the fourth of Lang's fairy books (following the Blue, Red and Green); there were twelve in all, published from 1889 through 1910. Among the illustrated tales in this volume are "The Six Swans," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Magic Ring" and "The Tinder-box." Although the earliest fairy books (Blue and Red) are quite scarce due to presumably smaller printings, we find that the subsequent lighter-colored ones (such as Yellow, Pink and Lilac) are the most difficult to find in fine condition, due to their greater susceptibility to cover soil. This is a very good copy -- scarcely any wear other than some erosion of the decorative gilt, and less cover soil than usual, but as usual the spine is rather dull (though gilt never stands out against yellow cloth anyway).