Goblin Market [and] The Night Before Christmas [and] The King of the Golden River [and] The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Description:

During the 1930s, George G. Harrap & Co. published a charming quartet of Christmas-themed books, all illustrated by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) representing the final decade of his career. While only The Night Before Christmas is explicitly a Christmas poem, the other titles were presented as part of a festive or gift series. Each volume features Rackham’s whimsical artwork, capturing the magic and wonder of the tales. First editions were issued with four colour plates; later editions were issued with a single colour frontispiece. This highly collectible set includes a rare first edition alongside three later editions (the latter three accompanied by their scarce illustrated presentation envelopes).

Goblin Market, first edition, 1933. Christina Rossetti’s poetic narrative, with seasonal and fantastical overtones, illustrated with a colour frontispiece, three colour plates, and black-and-white line drawings. In pictorial card covers (without dust wrapper).

The Night Before Christmas, second edition, 1939 [first published 1931]. Rackham’s most celebrated Christmas book, featuring Clement Moore’s iconic poem (A Visit from St. Nicholas), with a colour frontispiece and black-and-white illustrations, in the original presentation envelope (slightly torn).

The King of the Golden River, second edition, 1939 [first published 1932]. John Ruskin’s tale, not strictly a Christmas story but included in the festive series, in the original presentation envelope.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin, second edition, 1939 [first published 1934]. Robert Browning’s classic poem, with a colour frontispiece and black-and-white illustrations, in the original presentation envelope (slightly torn with some loss).

A rare set that combines Rackham’s enchanting later work with a seasonal theme.

Condition

4 vols, 8vo, pictorial card covers, patterned endpapers, page edges uncut. Some foxing to page edges/margins and at beginning and end of some volumes. The three later editions with their original presentation envelops. Previous owner's bookplate to flyleaf or blank verso/recto of endpaper to each volume. Vg.