The Children's Corner, R. H. Elkin — 1st Edition

£295.00

The Children's Corner, R. H. Elkin — 1st Edition

Name: The Children's Corner, R. H. Elkin — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5887 L
Price: 295.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London and Philadelphia, Augener Ltd. and David McKay, [1914]

Formatting: Square 4to, unpaginated.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The primary buckram binding remains remarkably tight and exceptionally well-preserved, featuring pristine, unoxidised gilt titling to the upper board alongside a bright, unrubbed pictorial onlay. The corners are sharp with only the faintest hint of shelf-wear, while the text block is clean, completely free of foxing, and firmly attached to the spine. All fifteen colour plates are present, vibrant, and perfectly affixed to the thick card stock. The exceptionally rare original dust jacket is in Very Good condition, retaining its original grey-green hue and central pictorial panel, with only minor edge-wear, trivial chipping to the spine extremities, and a few faint handling marks, presenting beautifully within a protective transparent sleeve.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, distinguished by the dual imprint of Augener Ltd. (London) and David McKay (Philadelphia) on the title page, confirming its status as the true first printing issued simultaneously for the British and American markets.

The volume is magnificently illustrated by the Dutch artist Henriëtte Willebeek Le Mair, featuring a charming title vignette and fifteen exquisite colour plates. Le Mair's delicate, pastel-toned watercolours were heavily influenced by the Aesthetic Movement and Kate Greenaway, capturing the idyllic, nostalgic innocence of Edwardian childhood.

While copies of this title occasionally appear on the open market, they are nearly always bereft of their fragile original dust jacket. The presence of the jacket, especially one so structurally intact and retaining its distinct front-panel vignette and rear-panel publisher's device, elevates this copy significantly, making it an exceptional acquisition for collectors of Golden Age children's illustration.

A quintessential masterpiece of Edwardian children's literature, The Children's Corner pairs R. H. Elkin's endearing nursery rhymes with the transcendent watercolour artistry of Henriëtte Willebeek Le Mair. Each turn of the page reveals tender, delicately framed vignettes of childhood daily life—from the trepidation of a haircut to the quiet joys of playtime. Le Mair's elegant compositions and muted, dreamy palette evoke a timeless innocence, cementing this work as a celebrated staple of early twentieth-century book illustration.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: R. H. Elkin

Book Publisher: Augener Ltd. & David McKay

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Children's Poetry & Anthologies

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1914

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: H. Willebeek Le Mair

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.