In Fairyland: A Series of Pictures from the Elf-World
Second edition of "perhaps the single most popular and influential series of fairy illustrations ever produced" (Johnson, pg. 63), with Richard Doyle’s exquisite chromolithographic plates accompanied by verses by William Allingham. First published in 1870 and quickly acclaimed as a masterpiece of illustrated fantasy, In Fairyland captures the height of the Victorian fascination with elves and fairies, its richly colored plates marking a landmark in nineteenth-century book illustration.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1875. Folio, half green morocco over original green cloth boards, lettered and decorated in gilt, 5 raised bands to spine. Complete with 16 lovely hand-colored plates, engraved and printed by Edmund Evans. An about very good copy. Binding remains firm, endpapers renewed, cloth boards a bit rubbed and scratched. Scattered foxing, toning and thumbsoiling to pages with a few page edges worn and creased, plates are all in nice shape. Owner's inscription to half-title. A presentable copy of this classic and important work.