L. T. Meade [Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith] — Four on an Island

London; Edinburgh, W. & R. Chambers, [1892] (Undated, dated from a co. First edition. Cloth. London; Edinburgh: W. & R. Chambers, [1892] (Undated, dated from a copy held by the British Library). First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed. 7.5" by 6". W. Rainey. An incredibly scarce first edition of this illustrated children's adventure title. An incredibly scarce first edition title, in original, charmingly illustrated pictorial boards.One of nearly 300 books published by prolific Irish writer Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith, under her pseudonym 'L. T. Meade&apos.Ink inscription to front blank reads 'Dear Kathleen from Auntie Emma, Xmas 1913&apos. And, perhaps in Kathleen's handwriting, a careful pencil inscription to the rear blank: 'I have read this book&apos.Featuring a monochrome frontispiece, and 5 further monochrome plates, rendered by British artist W. Rainey, who wrote and illustrated several children's books himself. Collated, complete. Bound in original red pictorial boards. Externally, very smart. Slight fading to spine. Mild shelf wear. Internally, firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean. Contemporary ink inscription to front blank. Contemporary child's pencil inscription 'I have read this book' to rear blank. Light spotting to text block edges. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: W. Rainey. Very Good Indeed .