WONDERFUL STORIES FOR CHILDREN

New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1847. Very good.. First illustrated American edition, published only a year after the UK first, of the first translated collection into English of Andersen's fairy tales, with three of four plates. Preceded only by a Ticknor edition (consisting of English sheets) and a Wiley & Putnam edition issued without illustrations, making this the first illustrated American edition. This copy lacks the third of four plates; however, other known copies of this edition lack the same plate, leading to the possibility that since the plates were supplied from the English edition, there may have been fewer copies of this plate. Folktale historian Jack Zipes considers this collection a turning point for the English fairy tale: "From this point on, the fairy tale flowered in many different forms and colors and expanded its social discourse." 5.75'' x 4.5''. Original gilt-stamped green pictorial cloth. Illustrated with 3 (of 4) full-page color plates. Author's name misspelled on the title page, as it is on the 1846 first edition. Notable wear to spine extremities and slight cover soil, joints cracked but holding. Moderate foxing to text. Green still vivid.