Story of the Treasure Seekers

NESBIT, E[dith]. The Story of the Treasure Seekers. Being the Adventures of the Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune. With Illustrations by Gordon Brown and Lewis Baumer. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1900. 8vo, xii 298pp + [10] advts. Red cloth pictorially stamped in gilt; all edges red. 17 halftone plates. Spine ends and corners a bit rubbed, spine lightly sunned, some light soiling to cloth, endpapers foxed, sheets a bit aged with some slight foxing. Nonetheless a nice copy of this rare book.

Second printing, being the first appearance in the red cloth with gilt stamping that became the “signature look” for Nesbit’s beloved children’s novels. Nesbit’s first novel following the hilarious adventures of the Bastable children. Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel, and H.O. attempt to assist their widowed father in recovering the fortunes of their family through a series of misguided and charming adventures. This was Nesbit’s first great success and the introduction to her wonderful talent for writing stories about realistic children like her readers were familiar with. The use of the “anonymous” narrator was an added touch of inspiration!