Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales – Kay Nielsen (1924) (1st US ed)

S$490.00

Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales – Kay Nielsen (1924) (1st US ed)

S$490.00

The first US edition of Kay Nielsen’s stunning illustrations for Andersen’s Fairy Tales. Scarce.

Title: Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales

Author: Hans Christian Andersen, Kay Nielsen (illus)

Publisher: George H. Doran, 1924. First US edition.

Condition: Hardcover, decorative cloth. Protected with mylar. Good. Some wear to cover – back cover soiled with stains and mould, spine slightly rubbed and fraying. Front cover good. A tear to back endpaper, causing a hole in the middle, with a slightly cracked hinge (see photos). Interior tanned but in excellent condition. All 12 colour plates present and pristine. Also containing numerous black-and-white illustrations. A large book, overseas shipping will cost extra.

About the illustrator (from Wikipedia):

Kay Rasmus Nielsen (March 12, 1886 – June 21, 1957) was a Danish illustrator who was popular in the early 20th century, the “golden age of illustration” which lasted from when Daniel Vierge and other pioneers developed printing technology to the point that drawings and paintings could be reproduced with reasonable facility. Nielsen is also known for his collaborations with Disney for whom he contributed many story sketches and illustrations, not least for Fantasia.

A year later in 1914, Nielsen provided 25 colour plates and more than 21 monotone images for the children’s collection East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The colour images for both In Powder and Crinoline and East of the Sun and West of the Moon were reproduced by a 4-colour process, in contrast to many of the illustrations prepared by his contemporaries that characteristically utilized a traditional 3-colour process. Also in that year, Nielsen produced at least three illustrations depicting scenes from the life of Joan of Arc. When published later in the 1920s, these images were associated with relevant text from The Monk of Fife.

While painting landscapes in the Dover area, Nielsen came into contact with The Society of Tempera Painters where he learned new skills, and was able to reduce the time involved in the painting process. In 1917 Nielsen left for New York where an exhibition of his work was held and subsequently returned to Denmark. Together with a collaborator, Johannes Poulsen, he painted stage scenery for the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. During this time, Nielsen also worked on an extensive suite of illustrations intended to accompany a translation of The Arabian Nights that had been undertaken by the Arabic scholar, Professor Arthur Christensen. According to Nielsen’s own published comments, these illustrations were to be the basis of his return to book illustrations following a hiatus during World War I and the intention had been to publish the Danish version in parallel with versions for the English-speaking world and the French market. The project never came to fruition and Nielsen’s illustrations remained unknown until many years after his death.

Following his theatrical work in Copenhagen, Nielsen returned to contributing to illustrated books with the publication of Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen in 1924. That title included 12 colour plates and more than 40 monotone illustrations. The colour images were prepared with integrated formal and informal borders; the informal borders were produced in a mille fleur style. A year later, Nielsen provided the artwork for Hansel and Gretel, and Other Stories by the Brothers Grimm which was first published with 12 colour images and over 20 detailed monotone illustrations. A further 5 years passed before the publication of Red Magic, the final title to be illustrated comprehensively by Nielsen. The 1930 version of Red Magic included 8 colour and more than 50 monotone contributions from the Danish artist.