The Grateful Sparrow and other Tales, Angela Thirkell

£22.50

The Grateful Sparrow and other Tales, Angela Thirkell

Name: The Grateful Sparrow and other Tales, Angela Thirkell
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5963
Price: 22.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Hamish Hamilton, c. 1946

Formatting: 4to, pp. 117.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is bound tightly in quarter red cloth over pictorial boards, with the text block remaining impressively square and the hinges fully secure. There is minor bumping to the spine ends and faint shelf-wear along the bottom edges, but the binding remains remarkably well-preserved. Internally, the pages are bright, fresh, and completely free from the foxing that frequently affects children's books of this era, allowing the twenty-four colour plates to remain vibrant and unmarked. The original dust jacket is also in Very Good condition; it is unclipped and shows only minor rubbing to the extremities, mild toning to the spine panel, and a small closed tear to the upper front edge.

Catalogue Note: This is a charming mid-1940s issue of Angela Thirkell's translation of five traditional German tales, originally published by Hamish Hamilton in 1935. The publisher's advertisements on the rear panel of the dust jacket firmly date this copy to the immediate post-war period. Specifically, the inclusion of E.B. White's Stuart Little (first published in the UK by Hamish Hamilton in 1946) and James Thurber's The White Deer (1945) confirms a publication date of circa 1946.

The volume is beautifully augmented by twenty-four full-page, colour-printed illustrations by the celebrated 19th-century German Romantic artist Adrian Ludwig Richter. It features a dedication to "the memory of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Berthold Auerbach, and their translators."

Surviving copies of this title complete with their original, fragile dust jackets are uncommon on the open market, particularly in such well-preserved internal condition.

Angela Thirkell's The Grateful Sparrow and other Tales is a delightful collection of five traditional German children's stories brought to life for an English-speaking audience. Translated with Thirkell's characteristic wit and elegance, the tales are perfectly complemented by the enchanting, vintage colour illustrations of Ludwig Richter, capturing the timeless magic and moral whimsy of classic European folklore.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Angela Thirkell

Book Publisher: Hamish Hamilton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Children's Fiction & True Stories

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 117

Book Publication Year: 1946

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Ludwig Richter

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.