Found at the same time as the Alice in Wonderland in my last post. This is another WHSmith exclusive edition, published by Brimax Books in 1990. This edition is adapted from Barrie’s original by Peter Oliver.
‘Second to the right, and straight on till morning.’ That, Peter had told Wendy, as the way to Neverland.
I love Tinker Bell’s Art Nouveau look here…
And the lovely blue-haired mermaids…
The second in my festive pantomime-themed posts.
Once upon a time there was a queen who wished for a child…
From Bridget Hadaway fairy stories
Who’s the fairest of them all…?
Unknown illustrator
The huntsman left Snow White in the forest…
By Hilda Boswell
Disney illustrations adapted by Campbell Grant
Snow White meets the seven dwarfs…
From Treasury of Literature illustrated by William Sharp
Unknown illustrator
The poisoned apple…
Disney illustrations adapted by Campbell Grant
By Hilda Boswell
A glass coffin and a lonely vigil…
Unknown illustrator
Happily ever after…
From Bridget Hadaway fairy stories
From Treasury of Literature illustrated by William Sharp
As it’s Christmas and panto season I thought this month I’d do a weekly post covering vintage illustrations for classic pantomime stories.
So first up – Aladdin.
Here’s Mickey Mouse as Aladdin on the cover of the 1974 Disney annual.
Disneyland Annual 1974
From Tales of Long Ago by Enid Blyton Illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone
This book has no illustrator credits. It was first published by Octopus Books Ltd, 1974.
Cover of Fairy Tales retold by Bridget Hadaway
Inside illustration from Fairy Tales retold by Bridget Hadaway
This is from the Children’s Treasury of Literature in Colour that I wrote about here
Illustration by Lowell Hess
And another from the Grahame Johnstone sisters.
From Dean’s Gift Book of Fairy Tales illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone
A few weeks ago I was browsing the children’s shelves in the wonderful Eric T Moore Books in Hitchin when I noticed this fairly unremarkable looking book. As I hadn’t yet come across anything I wanted to buy I picked it up anyway, expecting a generic collection of fairy tales. But what wonders were within! It is a treasury indeed.
Turns out this is a 1981 WHSmith exclusive printing of a book originally published in the 1960s by Western Publishing Inc. The treasury is edited and selected by Bryna and Louis Untermeyer (and some of the stories are retold by Louis Untermeyer). It is 544 pages long and contains selections from The Just So Stories, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, The Sword in the Stone, the Hobbit, The Wizard of Oz and countless others. And best of all, every story is illustrated – sometimes by illustrators I’m familiar with – EH Shepard, John Tenniel, Charley Harper, Alice and Martin Provensen and some new-to-me illustrators such as Gordon Laite.
Wonderful colours in Robert J Lee’s Hobbit illustrations – I love the flowers on Gandalf’s robe. He also illustrates Poo-Poo Finds a Dragon.
An Unexpected Party from The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien illustrated by Robert J Lee
Poo-Poo Finds a Dragon by CS Forester and illustrated by Robert J Lee
Charley Harper’s stunning Bambi illustrations.
From Bambi by Felix Salten and illustrated by Charley Harper
This gorgeous owl in his green sunglasses. (I didn’t know this story or illustrator.)
From Raoul the Owl by Jay Williams and illustrated by Lilian Obligado
This was the first time I’d come across Gordon Laite. His fairy story illustrations are fantastic.
Cinderella illustrated by Gordon Laite
Rapunzel illustrated by Gordon Laite
Adrienne Ségur has one illustration in Sleeping Beauty. Her work is beautiful and I am hoping to get a copy of her Alice one day.
Sleeping Beauty Illustrated by Adrienne Ségur
The wonderful Richard Scarry illustrates Drakestail.
Drakestail illustrated by Richard Scarry
A Japanese take on Bluebeard.
Bluebeard Illustrated by Kanako Tanabe
Ray Bradbury’s short story about learning not to be afraid of the dark.
Switch on the Night by Ray Bradbury and illustrated by Hilary Knight
I didn’t know these stories either. I love Jean Winslow’s pen (or pencil) and watercolour (I think) illustrations.
Ting-a-Ling and the Five Magicians by Frank R Stockton illustrated by Jean Winslow
And finally Aesop’s Fables retold by Louis Untermeyer and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. A grin to rival the Cheshire Cat’s!
The Cat and the Mice from Aesop’s Fables illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen
The White Cat cover
Another book illustrated by the wonderful Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone. This is a French fairy story by Madame la Comtesse d’Aulnoy written in 1682. Published by Dean 1972. This isn’t a story that appears in fairytale collections very often, let alone in a book to itself. It’s a classic enchanted-creature, dividing the kingdom tale, but in this story the enchanted creature is the princess and the prince is on the journey.
Three princes are sent on a quest to find the prettiest, tiniest dog for their father. The youngest prince gets lost in the forest and finds his way to a mysterious castle where the servants are strange disembodied hands. It turns out that the castle is the home of the Queen of Cats.
The prince meets the Queen of Cats
The Queen of Cats takes quite a fancy to the prince and he stays with her until it is time to return to his father. The Queen gives him a dog that fits inside a cob nut. Of course the King was a bit put out by this and sent his sons on another quest and so on and so on.
While the youngest prince is living with the Queen of Cats she treats him to entertainments, parties and feasts. She even has her own theatre – isn’t this great!
Cat theatre!
I won’t tell you the end of the story – but suffice to to say they lived happily ever after…
Watching the fireworks
The illustration is sumptuous and the costumes are authentic late-1600s. Costume was one of the Johnstone sisters’ great strengths and interests – especially Anne (I believe Janet focussed on animals).
Three Wishes Books 