FIRST EDITION OF THE RED TRUE STORY BOOK

LANG, Andrew. The Red True Story Book. London and New York: Longmans, Green, 1895. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter red morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, all edges gilt. $800.

First edition of this compilation of children’s stories, illustrated by Henry J. Ford, handsomely bound in morocco-gilt by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.

"A brilliant and versatile man [Lang] was a poet, critic, essayist, anthropologist, folklorist and 'King's-craftsman of fairy tales'" (Meigs, 316). In this volume, however, Lang treats historical subjects including the lives of Joan of Arc and Molly Pitcher, the captivity narrative of Peter Williamson, Captain Bligh and the mutineers of the Bounty and the Spanish conquest of Peru. Numerous dramatic full-page and in-text wood-engravings after drawings by Henry Justice Ford illustrate the text. "His penwork is assured and clear and placed on the page with great decorative effect" (Houfe, 140). Faint owner signature on half title.

A lovely volume in fine condition.