Hans Christian Andersen - Antique Fairies

Hans Christian Andersen (2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Reference: Wikipedia. Many illustrators have created art works for his books including Kay Nielsen and Harry Clarke.

Below are some examples and price guides of books by Hans Christian Andersen as well as some artwork created for his books.

NIELSEN, KAY. 1886-1957.
ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN. 1805-1875. Fairy Tales. London: Hodder and Stoughton, [1924].
Large 4to. Engraved illustrated title page, engraved tailpieces, 16 full-page black & white engravings, and 12 color plates by Kay Nielsen. Publisher’s deluxe binding of full vellum, upper cover with gilt-embossed vignette (replicating the title page), flat spine with gilt tree at foot and gilt titling at head, top edge gilt. Front free endpaper with remnants of bookplate, slight splaying to boards, gilt on spine slightly faded.

Sold for US$2,040 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2020

CLARKE, Harry (1889–1931), illustrator. –– ANDERSEN, Hans Christian (1805–1875). Fairy Tales. London: George G. Harrap & Company, [1916].
4to. (Several small marginal tears throughout, large tear to margin on p. 171; not affecting text). 40 plates, (16 tipped in color plates with printed tissue guards), numerous decorations and head–pieces by Clarke. Original pictorial cloth, top edge gilt, others uncut (spine heavily sunned, some staining or darkening to covers, extreme ends worn with repairs, both free endpapers removed, hinges cracked and repaired with tissue); cloth chemise; slipcase.

FIRST TRADE EDITION, of the Irish illustrator’s sought after first book. Clarke was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement whose illustrated books are becoming rarer on the market.

Sold for US$225 at Potter & Potter Auctions in 2023

Andersen, Hans Christian. The Complete Andersen. Translated by Jean Hersholt. Illustrations by Fritz Kredel. 6 volumes. Tall 8vo, silver-lettered cloth-backed boards, slipcase (1 corner split); moderate wear, bookplates. ONE OF 1500 NUMBERED COPIES, SIGNED BY HERSHOLT & KREDEL. New York: Limited Editions Club, (1949) [75/100]

Sold for US$140 at New England Book Auctions in 2022