Phoenix and the Carpet

NESBIT, E. The Phoenix and the Carpet. Illustrated by H.R. Millar. London: George Newnes Limited [1904]. 8vo, xii 236pp. Navy cloth pictorially stamped in light blue, red, and gilt: t.e.g. Color plate frontispiece and numerous b&w illustrations. Spine ends and corners worn, upper corners lightly bumped, small damp-stain and some soiling to covers, 3 ½” x 1” at top of front free endpaper excised, endpapers and half-title a tad aged, nonetheless an internally clean, tight copy.

First edition. The second book in Nesbit’s Psammead Trilogy. Returning to the five siblings from Five Children and It, this wonderful novel follows the children as they find an egg in their nursery’s replacement carpet that hatches a talking Phoenix! And, naturally enough, the carpet that held the Phoenix’s egg is a flying carpet! Incredible adventures ensue! A novel that shows clearly why Nesbit is considered one of the great writers of children’s fantasy!