Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen. Illustrated by Harry Clarke.  London: George Harrap & Co., [1916]. First Edition. Publisher’s pictorial grey cloth boards with vignette illustration of ‘The Snow Queen’ ornate title & butterfly motif to upper cover & spine. Cloth lightly age-toned and with a little wear to head of spine, scattered spotting to contents but overall a nice bright copy.

Illustrated with sixteen coloured plates and twenty-four full page black & white illustrations (plus ten decorative tailpieces).

This marked Harry Clarke’s debut as a book illustrator, and he took great delight in being compensated for his artistic genius.  

His delicate linework, rich detailing, and striking use of colour bring Andersen’s stories to life with both whimsy and gothic intensity. Clarke’s unique vision transforms familiar tales into otherworldly scenes, where beauty and darkness intertwine.

These illustrations, celebrated for their originality and craftsmanship, remain some of the most distinctive and enduring interpretations of Andersen’s fairy tales.

[Steenson A.1a].