Helen Waddell [Editor, Translator] — Beasts and Saints

London, Constable and Company Ltd. 1934. First edition. Cloth. A bright first edition collection of pre-twelfth century tales of animals and saints, translated from their original Latin, with the scarce original unclipped dust wrapper. In the publisher's original red cloth binding, complete with the scarce original unclipped dust wrapper.An attractive first edition of this work, with detailed illustrations from sculptor and wood engraver Robert Gibbings. A collection of stories illustrating the bonds between saints and animals, spanning from the late fourth to the twelfth century, translated from Latin by author, playwright, and scholar Helen Waddell. Focusing exclusively on tales of pre-Franciscan saints, Waddell deliberately uses accessible language. Detailed notes on her sources are provided at the end of the volume. The collection is organized into three thematic sections: The Desert Fathers, The Saints of the West, and The Saints of Ireland. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, Very smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities. Slight fading to head and tail of spine. Previous owner's inscription to front free endpaper. Endpapers slightly age toned with slight offsetting and one or two spots. Dust wrapper, generally smart. Loss to spine. The odd chip and closed tear to extremities. Slight age toning, more so to spine, with one or two slight handling marks. The odd spot to perimeters. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with the odd spot to first few leaves and one or two spots to fore edge. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Robert Gibbings. Very Good Indeed/Good Only.