Beschreibung:

[GRIMM, Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm GRIMM (1786-1859).] CRUIKSHANK, George, illustrator (1792-1878). German Popular Stories translated from the Kinder und Haus Märchen, collected by M.M. Grimm from oral tradition. London: C. Baldwyn, 1823 and James Robins, 1826. The first appearance of Grimm tales in English, with George Cruikshank's "remarkable" and "unsurpassed" illustrations, uncut in original bindings. "The stories we know today as Grimm's Fairy Tales were collected from oral tradition by the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, philologists and pioneer folklorists. They began to publish the results of their work in 1812, in German, under the title Kinder- und Haus-Marchen. The tales first appeared in English in 1823, with the publication of the first volume of German Popular Stories. The translator was Edgar Taylor, and the book's publication was an auspicious event for at least two reasons. It launched an era in which folklore and the fairy tale would stimulate writers to produce an increasingly imaginative literature for children. And German Popular Stories also put before the public the remarkable illustrations—perhaps his best work—of George Cruikshank The illustrations evoke wonderfully the grotesque, awesome, yet matter-of-fact qualities of witch and goblin, of Frog and Prince, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, and all of the the other characters that people the tales. As illustrations to these fairy tales Cruikshank's etchings have never been surpassed" (Morgan). First edition, first issue, of the first volume (without umlaut over "Marchen" and with all other issue points noted by Cohn), and first edition of second volume, together complete with 20 plates by George Cruikshank Cohn 369; Morgan Early Children's Books and Their Illustration 197. Two volumes, octavo (190 x 110mm). Uncut. Complete with 20 plates, as follows. Vol. 1: half title, engraved title page, and 11 plates, as called for, by George Cruikshank 12 pp. of ads at rear (some browning to plates). Original drab pictorial boards (rebacked with original spine laid down, spotting to rear). Vol. 2: half title, engraved title page and 9 plates by Cruikshank, 13 pp. of ads. Original pink paper-covered boards backed with green cloth, paper spine label. Together in custom box.