W. Jenkyn Thomas — The Welsh Fairy Book

London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1907. First edition. Cloth. The very scarce first edition, first impression of this delightful treasury of Welsh fairy tales by Welsh folklorist W. Jenkyn Thomas, with illustrations by Willy Pogany. The very scarce first edition, first impression of this uncommon work in the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. William Jenkyn Thomas (1870-1959) was a Welsh headmaster and folklorist. Finding that many of his students knew little about Welsh fairy tales, he decided to compile this treasury. This collection comprises eighty-three beguiling stories of witches, phantoms, magical spells and more, including 'The Lady of the Lake', 'Pergrin and the Mermaiden', 'The Cave of the Young Men of Snowdonia', 'Why the Red Dragon is the Emblem of Wales', 'Helig's Hollow' and many others. This volume is sure to delight fairy tale lovers of all ages.Illustrated throughout with enchanting illustrations by Willy Pogany (1882-1955), a prolific Hungarian illustrator of children's books who used an Art Nouveau style.Undated, dated through copies held at the British Library. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Externally smart, though faded to the spine, with light shelf wear to the joints and extremities. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with the odd spot. Very Good . Ill.: Willy Pogany. Very Good .