Beschreibung:

Jessie M. King
A collection of original illustrations for The Enchanted Capital of Scotland, c.1945, with marked-up typescript, and 5 copies of the first edition
i. illustration for dust-jacket. 250 x 360mm.; 408 x 525mm., watercolour and pen and black ink on vellum, SIGNED "JESSIE M. KING" ON LOWER RIGHT, and inscribed with title on upper right, framed and glazed;
ii. 5 illustrations for colour plates ("Attack from the Gollochs"; "McNab the Gardener"; "Edinburgh"; "Sandy Scott Plays the Pipes"; "The Saviours of the Castle"). Each c.240 x 360mm.; 408 x 525mm., watercolour and pen and black ink on vellum, EACH SIGNED "JESSIE M. KING" ON LOWER RIGHT, framed and glazed;
iii. 45 original illustrations and preparatory designs. Various sizes, all pen and black ink, some signed with initials and some inscribed;
iv. "The Enchanted Capital of Scotland a Story of Mystery & Adventure", original typescript, [1944], with extensive corrections and revisions in pencil and ink, paper wrappers, titled in pencil on upper wrapper, 46 pages, 4to, unbound;
v. Isobel K.C. Steele (Jessie M. King, illus.). The Enchanted Capital of Scotland. 5 copies, FIRST EDITIONS, 5 volumes in all, 4to, 283 x 178mm., numerous illustrations (some full-page and in colour), original blue cloth, illustrated dust-jackets, some wear to dust-jackets
An enchanting collection of material related to Isobel K.C. Steele's whimsical children's tale The Enchanted Castle of Scotland, first published in 1945, led by Jessie M. King's original illustrations and preparatory designs for the book. The story tells of a group of four young cousins who go in search of a queen bee who is lost from her hive. They visit McNab, a gardener who looks after the hives, who tells them of a creature kidnapping the queen bee. Barrannie, the children's nurse, suggests that the evil Horny Gollochs have stolen the queen and hold her in their power. She tells the children to visit a black cat Cheetie who may be able to help them in their quest. Mistress Kate tells the children that the queen is held prisoner in a deep well in Edinburgh Castle and that the Gollochs have bewitched the city. Protected from the magic of the Gollochs by spectacles the children unsuccessfully attempt to storm the castle. Mistress Kate tells the children that the Gollochs are afraid of the music of the pipes and so the children enlist the help of Sandy Scott and march against the castle. This time they are successful and the Gollochs flee, releasing the queen and the city from their spell. Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Louis Stevenson and J.M. Barrie (with a crooked stick) appear to thank the children for saving the castle and Scotland. On the title-page, the artist includes a small drawing of herself dressed as a witch on a broomstick wearing her black hat carrying brushes and palette instead of a magic wand. A typescript also included in the present lot, marked up with numerous manuscript corrections, offers a unique insight into the meticulous editorial process behind the story.
For another original illustration by King, see lot 293.
PROVENANCE:commissioned by the grandfather of the present owner; by descent