Charles Kingsley — The Water Babies

Nottingham, Hodder and Stoughton for Boots the Chemist , 1919 . Cloth. A wonderfully illustrated copy of Charles Kingsley's popular children's work, with bright, colourful drawings by Jessie Willcox Smith. Bound in the publisher's original green cloth. Dated using Jisc from copies of the work held at University of Cambridge Libraries. This is a wonderful copy of 'The Water-Babies', also titled 'A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby&apos. This children's book by Charles Kingsley was originally written from 1862 to 1863 in Macmillan's Magazine, as a satire in support of Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species&apos. As with many classic pieces of Victorian literature, it functions as a didactic moral fable, telling of young chimney sweep Tom's moral education. Charmingly illustrated with green vignettes throughout, as well as twelve coloured plates, tipped-in. Collated, complete. Penned by Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), a priest, professor, novelist, poet and friend of Charles Darwin. Illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith (1863-1935), an American illustrator active during the Golden Age of illustration. She illustrated for numerous magazines, and is also memorable for her illustrations for the Mother Goose series of illustrations, the Good Housekeeping covers between 1917 and 1933, and 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. With a contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper, dated 1929. In the publisher's original green cloth binding. Externally, excellent, with light bumping to the extremities and the occasional mark to cloth. The odd spot to the fore edge. Ink inscription to the front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean, with the occasional scattered spotting. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Jessie Willcox Smith. Very Good Indeed .