[SMITH, Jessie Willcox]. The Princess and the Goblin. By George MacDonald. Illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith. Philadelphia: David McKay, 1920. 4to, 203pp. Gray cloth stamped in blue and gilt with color pictorial label affixed to front; t.e.g. Two-color pictorial endpapers; 9 color plates. Lower spine end a bit worn with some discoloration extending onto bottom edge of front cover, upper spine end and corners a tad rubbed, a few gouges to last blank leaf only slightly extending to previous two blank leaves, else an internally clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (chipped and worn, with lower half of spine panel missing).

 

First Smith-illustrated edition. MacDonald’s beloved early children’s fantasy novel was first published in 1872 with black and white illustrations by Arthur Hughes, but Smith’s lush and vibrant color plates bring wonderful life to this heroic, allegorical tale that heavily influenced C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.