Peau d'Ane.
Paris: Imagerie Merveilleuse de l'Enfance; no date [c. 1910]; 1st thus illustrated; Imprimerie Bellenaund 32-447; heavy ivory card with colored illustration, red titles; flush cut, rounded corners, on front, the prince arrives to see the goose girl princess sitting in her donkey skin, while the startled fowls and neighbors, and even the shocked thatched cottage, look on; on back a fairy in full reglaia; 9.5x12.5"; np.(about 10 pp.). French language softcover tall.
A lesser known tale in which the king, instructed by his dying queen to marry someone more beautiful and virtuous than she is, decides the only candidate is their daughter. She attempts to trick her father by requesting a series of impossible gowns, and finally flees wearing the skin of his magic donkey. All's well in the end. Albert Robida, a prolific turn of the century illustrator who is now know for his futuristic novels and illustrations, here injects his typical subtle humour into the fairytale.
CONDITION: Good; no names or other marks, spine split 4", on front, upper corner chipped, bottom bent, on front corners nice, (rounded corners were such a good idea!); darkening quite a bit inside and out, but very clean. Thin mylar cover to support spine. Item #22242
Price: $56.00