This rare book from the beginning of the 20th century has a full title A Selection from Grimm's Fairy Tales. It was published by Siegle Hill and Co. (Langham series for children) in London, very likely in 1905 or 1906.
It's a rather small book with dimensions of less than 5 inches of height and width, hardcover bound, with a combination of color and black and white drawings by Gilbert James (1865-1941). Only a few illustrations are printed using the full-color technique. Most others use only one or two colors, with red in different shades being the most popular choice.
The selection is made of six fairy tales. Four of them are still very popular, but two are known only to scholars today and present a very welcome addition for everybody interested in the history of fairy tales. Here is a content list:
All fairy tales will be presented very shortly with a few words and illustrations. Each one of them will have a link to a more detailed summary with all existing original illustrations.
The Frog Prince
The princess plays with her golden ball every day.
The Frog Prince
The princess plays with her golden ball every day.
The ball falls into the water, and a frog appears.
The princess offers a reward to the frog, who essentially wants her friendship.
The princess forgets about her promises the moment after getting the ball back.
Her father, the king, demands that the princess keep her word.
The ultimate climax of the story happens in the princess' bedroom, where the frog turns into a handsome prince.
Full story
Rumpelstiltskin
The king hears that the miller's daughter is able to spin straw into gold.
Full story
Rumpelstiltskin
The king hears that the miller's daughter is able to spin straw into gold.
He puts her on the test. If she succeeds, she'll become a queen. Otherwise, she will be sentenced to death.
She can't do the task.
A strange little man offers her help. But she has to pay the price - give him her firstborn. She accepts.
The king is satisfied and marries the girl. A son is born.
The little man demands the boy, but she convinces him to give her a chance to keep the son. She has to guess the little man's name. With the help of one of the servants, she succeeds.
The strange little man, whose name is Rumpelstiltskin, is mad, but the royal family is safe.
Full story
The Rabbit's Bride
A rabbit is stealing cabbage from the garden belonging to a woman and her daughter.
Full story
The Rabbit's Bride
A rabbit is stealing cabbage from the garden belonging to a woman and her daughter.
The girl tries to get rid of the rabbit. Instead, he convinces her to go to his home.
There, he arranges everything for the wedding. But the girl tricks him and escapes.
Her servant takes the shreds (hurds) and makes a lovely dress.
A young gentleman wants to marry the girl who had torn the flax. When he hears about the resourceful servant, he rather marries her.
Full story
The Sleeping Beauty
A princess is born. The king forgets to invite one of the fairies in the kingdom, and she curses the baby girl. When she works with a spindle, she will prick her finger and die.
Full story
The Sleeping Beauty
A princess is born. The king forgets to invite one of the fairies in the kingdom, and she curses the baby girl. When she works with a spindle, she will prick her finger and die.
The king tries to prevent this by forbidding spinning in the kingdom. His attempt is useless. Luckily, one of the fairies softens the curse, so the princess just falls to sleep, instead of dying.
Everybody in the kingdom falls asleep, too. This way, when she awakes, they will be alive, too.
The princess sleeps for one hundred years.
A princess finds a way to the castle and wakes the sleeping princess. Life goes on.
Full story
Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel are brother and sister. Their family is poor.
Full story
Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel are brother and sister. Their family is poor.
Their stepmother proposes to their father to take the children into the woods. This way, only two hungry mouths will be at the house.
The children are taken into the woods. Hansel marks their way home with white pebbles.
The kids stay alone but return home with the help of the pebbles.
Their parents take them into the woods again. This time, Hansel doesn't have pebbles and marks his path with breadcrumbs.
Breadcrumbs are eaten by birds and the kids are lost. They find a gingerbread house where they start eating. A nice old lady invited them in.
This lady is a cannibalistic witch who plans to eat the kids.
When she prepares an oven, Gretel puts her into the oven. The witch burns.
The kids find a lot of precious things in the witch's house. They try to return home.
A duck helps them to cross a lake and get home. Their stepmother died in the meantime.
Their father is happy with the kids coming back.
Full story
That is all from the Selected Grimm's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Gilbert Penrose James.
Full story
That is all from the Selected Grimm's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Gilbert Penrose James.
