Rare First Edition,


POLISH FAIRY TALES.

Translated From A. J. Glinski by Maude Ashurst Biggs.


Illustrated by Cecile Walton.


First published 1920, by John Lane, The Bodley Head, London.


A. J. Glinski was Poland's master folklore writer, and his nation's equivalent of the Brothers Grimm. He spent many years in the mid-nineteenth century travelling all over his nation's lands, listening to and writing down the stories as told to him by the ordinary folk. In this manner, he captured Polish folklore as it truly was-the way that the peasants would tell their children as part of a wide-ranging oral tradition.


This beautifully-illustrated edition of A. J. Glinksi's classic tales provides a marvelous glimpse into the world of Polish legend and folklore-and reveals its closeness and affinity to the greater European family of nations.

Bound up in history, legend, moral virtues, and ancient European culture, these classic stories were introduced to the English-speaking world early in the twentieth century. They were an instant hit, with tales such as the Frog Princess, Princess Miranda and Prince Hero, and many others quickly winning their place in the great classic tales of European literature.


From the introduction by Maude Ashurst Biggs:


These are selections from a large collection made by A. J. Glinski, printed at Wilna in 1862. These fairy tales come from a far past and may even date from primitive Aryan times. They represent the folklore current among the peasantry of the Eastern provinces of Poland, and also in those provinces usually known as White Russia. The obvious likenesses between these and the folklore of Germany, the Celtic nations, or to the Indian fairy tales, will strike every reader.


Table of contents:

The Frog Princess

Princess Miranda and Prince Hero

The Eagles

The Whirlwind

The Good Ferryman and the Water Nymphs

The Princess of the Brazen Mountain

The Bear in the Forest Hut

Appendix



Includes 20 color plates plus black and white pictorial chapter-headings by Cecile Walton.

Cecile Walton (29 March 1891 – 23 April 1956) was a Scottish painter, illustrator and sculptor. She and her husband Eric were two of the moving spirits of the Edinburgh chapter of the Symbolist movement in the early 20th century.

Interestingly an inscription on the ffep reads as follows,

To Biddy with love from E. M Mary Thomson, Xmas 1920. Below the inscription is a taped in newspaper clipping announcing the death of Ellen Mary Thompson in 1984, the lady who wrote and signed the inscription.

These details match Scottish Artist Ellen M. Murray Thomson 1889–1984. Whilst usually defined by her relationship to her better-known husband John Murray Thomson RSA, Ellen Murray Thomson was in her own right an accomplished painter of animal subjects and floral Art Nouveau designs.


Ellen was daughter of John Rose Frew, a master watchmaker and Provost of Dingwall (1906–1911), and a portrait she did of her father is in the collection of Dingwall Museum. It appears that before Ellen married she was a commercial artist and illustrator, producing designs inspired by architectural ornament, and creating decorative works in the Art Nouveau style—including commissions for ceramics. Thomson lived in Edinburgh (John teaching at the Edinburgh College of Art) and her floral designs were produced in the decade just following that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's influential work in Glasgow.


Ellen Murray Thomson also collaborated on children's book projects with her husband, and this collection includes later animal paintings by Ellen produced for book illustrations (as well as some original story manuscripts). These illustrations continue an animal theme, and are charming examples of a British children's storytelling tradition that combines interest in natural science with evocation of a simpler world pre-industrialisation.


Interestingly her husband John Murray Thomson taught at Edinburgh College of Art, around the same time as this books Artist Cecile Walton. In fact there is only two years age difference between Cecile Walton and Ellen Murray Thompson, it is likely they were known to each other, both being known as Edinburgh Artists leading the way in Symbolist and Art Nouveau movements and both having contributing book illustrations.

The book measures 20cm x 26cm.


Please check all photographs for a good understanding of the condition.


There are some signs of age/use. The blue cloth hardcover is slightly faded and discoloured, the spine in particular. Edges shelf worn, corners bumped and worn, spine has fraying wear along both top and bottom edges. Gilt emblem on front board remains bright, spine title faded. Boards holding well, firm with no exterior cracking of the joints. Pictorial end papers significantly foxed.

Text block in good reading condition. Yellow toning of the pages throughout, illustrations nice and bright on gloss paper. Text block is holding well with no loose/missing pages. Page edges a rough cut, top edge coloured blue but faded.

Previous owner inscription as previously explained, no further inscriptions.


Overall remains in good reading condition, a little worn but an incredibly scarce edition with fascinating tales and illustrations. A bonus having interesting provenance, including the signature of a well known Scottish Artist in the inscription.


If you require any further information then please don't hesitate to ask. Please study all photos as these give the best indication of condition. Additional photos available upon request.