G. A. Henty; Guy Boothby; L. T. Meade; J. Arthur Barry; Katherine Tynan; H. A. Bryden — Brains & Bravery

London, W. & R. Chambers, Limited, 1903. First edition. Cloth. A first edition copy of this collection of short stories, four of which are by G. A. Henty, with illustrations by Arthur Rackham. The first edition of this work in the publisher's green pictorial cloth variant binding. Ink inscription to the front free endpaper and to the verso of the front free endpaper, awarding this book as a prize from St. Peter's Church Sunday School, dated 1903. Illustrated with a frontispiece and a further seven black-and-white plates by the Golden Age book illustrator Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). Collated, complete. A collection of fourteen short stories illustrated with early examples of illustrations by Arthur Rackham. The first four stories, 'On an Indian Trail', 'At Duty's Call', 'Working Up' and 'Down a Crevasse', were written by George Alfred Henty (1832-1902), who is well-known for his adventure fiction and historical fiction. Other authors include Australian novelist Guy Boothby (1867-1905); L. T. Meade (the pseudonym for Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith); John Arthur Barry (1850-1911); and Henry Anderson Bryden. In the publisher's green pictorial cloth variant binding. Externally generally smart, with a little shelf wear to the boards and extremities. Front hinge is starting but firmly held. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with spotting to the first and last few pages, and the odd handling mark. Very Good . Ill.: Arthur Rackham. Very Good .