First edition. Quarto. Publisher’s original blue-green cloth with embossed gilt vignette depicting fairies to the upper board, elaborate decoration in gilt to the upper board and spine, and titles in gilt to the spine. Top edge gilt. Illustrated with 32 beautiful colour plates by Warwick Goble, each with a captioned tissue guard. Contemporary gift inscription in ink to the front free endpaper, presenting the work to one Kathleen Bell on her tenth birthday. A very good copy indeed, the binding square and firm with a touch of cracking in places, a few small nicks to the spine ends, and a little rubbing to the corners and lower board. The contents with some light scattered foxing to the endpapers/half title and occasionally to page edges, and the odd minor mark to page margins are otherwise in very good order throughout. The plates remain clean, crisp and vivid. An attractive copy, difficult to find in such good condition.