ANTIQUE 1874 The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald Illustrated Fantasy For Sale

Book Details
The Princess and the Goblin by George Mac Donald was published by J. B. Lippincott & Co in 1874. Antique Edition.Author Background
George MacDonald was a Scottish novelist who helped shape modern fantasy literature. After studying at the University of Aberdeen, he trained for the Congregational ministry and became pastor of Trinity Congregational Church in Arundel in 1850. His belief in God’s universal love and redemption conflicted with stricter views within the congregation, and he resigned in 1853 after his salary was reduced. Faith remained deeply woven through the writing career that followed. George published more than fifty books spanning Scottish novels, sermons, poetry, essays, fairy tales, and fantasy. His 1858 novel Phantastes helped establish him as an early pioneer of modern fantasy, while At the Back of the North Wind and The Princess and the Goblin became enduring works of children’s literature. His fairy tales joined adventure and imagination with ideas about courage, faith, and the struggle between good and evil, and his fantasy writing influenced generations of authors who followed him including C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia and J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings.Story Outside The Story
George and his wife Louisa raised a large family in a home in Hastings, England where storytelling, music, theater, and literature were part of everyday life. But the family also endured repeated tragedy as tuberculosis claimed several immediate family members, including four of their children. In 1881, the MacDonalds moved to Bordighera, Italy, where the warmer climate benefited their health and their home became a gathering place for readings, plays, lectures, concerts, and community activities. Before their move to Italy, George had become friends with Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll. When Lewis shared the manuscript of a children’s fantasy he had written with the MacDonald family, their enthusiastic response helped encourage him to publish Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.Contributor Background
Arthur Hughes was an English painter and illustrator who at only seventeen, began exhibiting at London’s Royal Academy. He was also associated with the Pre-Raphaelites, Victorian artists known for vivid color, close attention to detail, and subjects drawn from literature, nature, history, and imagination. After Arthur established his reputation as a Victorian painter, he turned his artistic talent toward book illustration. He illustrated works by several prominent Victorian writers and formed a decades-long artistic partnership with George MacDonald. Arthur brought George\'s fantasy worlds to life through richly detailed illustrations that captured the mystery, imagination, and wonder of his stories.Book\'s Story
The story in this book follows a young princess named Irene who lives a lonely life in a castle on a wild mountain, completely unaware that a wicked race of underground goblins is plotting an invasion beneath her feet. While exploring the castle tower, Irene discovers her mysterious, ageless great-great-grandmother, who spins a magical, invisible thread that can only be felt by someone with pure faith. When a brave young miner boy named Curdie is captured by the goblins while trying to expose their secret plan to kidnap the princess, Irene uses her invisible lifeline to navigate the pitch-black tunnels and rescue him. Together, they manage to defend the kingdom during the grand goblin attack by exploiting the creatures’ main weakness, their incredibly soft, sensitive feet.Collectible Notes
The Princess and the Goblin first appeared serially in Good Words for the Young from November 1870 through June 1871, followed by the first book edition in 1872. This 1874 J. B. Lippincott early edition retains its original moss-green cloth binding that features a circular gilt medallion identifying the Enchanting Fairy Library series, with a crowned girl holding a star-tipped wand above a coiled serpent or dragon-like creature. Intricate, black-stamped vines and geometric designs frame the gilt illustrations. The spine is richly decorated with gilt and black-stamped designs and the title centered between two separate gilt illustrated figures. All 30 Arthur Hughes illustrations are present and well-preserved.Condition
Good to fair antique condition. Moss-green cloth boards are remarkably clean for their age, with color fading on the front and back covers. The cloth corners have softened with light rubbing and minor bending, and the spine ends have small tears at the top and bottom. Dark brown endpapers show wear along the inner seams with visible adhesive from what appears to be a binding repair during this book\'s journey through time. The front endpaper has separated along much of the inner seam, exposing portions of the sewn binding, while the back endpaper is torn at the bottom of the seam but remains attached. Traces of adhesive are also visible along the inner edges of some pages. 203 pages are attached, deeply age-toned and foxed from more than 150 years of natural paper aging, and some of the original rough-cut edges have very minor chipping. Prior owner\'s name is written above the contents page. Back of the book contains 24 unnumbered pages of popular books published by J. B. Lippincott & Co.Carefully packaged and shipped with care from our smoke-free home. Now available to readers and collectors around the world through International Shipping. Measures 7.5\" long, 5” wide and 1.5\" deep. Weighs 1 lb. 1.6 oz.