Author: KINGSLEY, CHARLES (1819-1875)
Title: The water-babies : a fairy tale for a land-baby
Description: London ; Cambridge : Macmillan and Co. 1863. First Edition. This copy is from the rare first issue of the first edition. It contains a leaf bearing a poem. L'Envoi [following the dedication page]. Kingsley had second thoughts about this while the book was being printed. and he had the leaf removed. but not before a few hundred copies of the book had already been printed (Gottlieb. Early Children's Books and Their Illustration. 113). Very good copy in a fine period binding - Professionally and sympathetically rebacked with the spine laid back. Spine bands and panel edges slightly dust-toned and rubbed as with age. Gilt-blocked leather label (somewhat worn) to spine. with raised bands and spine compartments uniformly tooled in gilt. Gilt and blind-tooled double-lined borders to panels. 'Honoris Causa' gilt-stamped on front panel - 'Eliot Place' on rear. All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Scattered foxing around prelims and terminal leaves. Marginal foxing evident around the second plate facing p.145. Water staining also evident along bottom of prelims. including the frontis. and title page. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight. bright. clean and strong. Further scans. images etc. and additional bibliographical material available on request.; 8vo 8' - 9' tall; 350 pages; Physical description: 350p. [2] leaves of plates : ill. ; 22 cm. Summary: The Water-Babies was inspired by Kingsley's thoughts on evolution. He was one of the few clergymen to accept wholeheartedly Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection and to devote himself to the spread of the new knowledge of nature. Subjects: Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction -- Chimney sweeps -- Fairies -- Evolution. by the Rev. Charles Kingsley ; with two illustrations by J. Noel Paton. R.S.A.Weight in Kg appr.:

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