Under the Window: Pictures & Rhymes for Children, Kate Greenaway — 1st Ed

£225.00

Under the Window: Pictures & Rhymes for Children, Kate Greenaway — 1st Ed

Name: Under the Window: Pictures & Rhymes for Children, Kate Greenaway — 1st Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4893
Price: 225.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£225.00

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Publication: London, George Routledge & Sons, [1878]

Formatting: 4to, pp. 64.

Condition Report: Good. The original quarter green cloth and glazed pictorial boards remain fundamentally sound, though they present with noticeable rubbing and moderate shelf-wear commensurate with a well-read nineteenth-century children's book. The extremities are visibly worn, with the underlying boards exposed at the bumped corners and along the edges. The cloth spine exhibits moderate fraying and structural fatigue at the head and tail, yet internally, the binding retains its integrity without major splitting. The text block is pleasingly clean, with only sporadic handling marks and faint occasional spotting that do not detract from the vibrant colour-printing. A neatly affixed bookplate to the front pastedown constitutes the only major internal marking, leaving this a respectable, complete example of a fragile title.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, mixed Early Issue. This copy retains significant early issue points, most notably the absence of publisher’s ornaments around the name of the printer, Edmund Evans, on the title page. As is typical of this delicate early printing, it captures Greenaway’s original aesthetic vision before overwhelming commercial demand necessitated subsequent typesetting and illustrative alterations. The volume is profusely and charmingly illustrated throughout with Greenaway's iconic colour wood-engravings, masterfully executed by Evans.

This copy boasts a distinguished provenance, bearing the armorial bookplate ("Constant and True") of James Anderson Rose (1819–1890) affixed to the front pastedown. Rose was a prominent Victorian solicitor, print collector, and a key patron of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, famous for legally representing and advising major figures such as James Abbott McNeill Whistler and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

True early printings of Greenaway’s debut solo work are scarce on the open market. Because of its immediate popularity, the book sold out quickly, leading to numerous rapid reprints and pirated editions. Surviving copies in their original boards that have escaped heavy childhood destruction remain highly sought after by collectors of Victorian illustration.

Kate Greenaway’s landmark debut, Under the Window, revolutionised children's literature upon its release, establishing the "Greenaway vogue" of the late Victorian era. Composed entirely of her own original rhymes and pictures, the book captures a remarkably idyllic, innocent vision of childhood, populated by cherubic children in nostalgic Regency dress. Her collaboration with the master colour-printer Edmund Evans resulted in a commercial and artistic triumph, shifting the aesthetic standards for picture books and cementing Greenaway’s legacy as one of the most influential illustrators of the nineteenth century.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Kate Greenaway

Book Publisher: George Routledge & Sons

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Children's Poetry & Anthologies

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 64

Book Publication Year: 1878

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Kate Greenaway

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.