"Curious Stories about Fairies and Other Funny People", published by Ticknor and Fields, Boston in 1856, copyright 1855 by the publisher; illustrated with 6 engraved plates by Billings [famous American illustrator, who illustrated in 1852 the first edition of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"].

Embossed hard boards, original publisher's cloth, some wear, gold stamped spine with golden 'King of Golden River', yellowish endpapers, 6 b/w engraved plates by Charles Howland Hammatt Billings; 4.1/2" x 7", 303 pages, a little soiling, very good condition.

First American Edition of ALL these Stories:

"The King of the Golden River or the Black Brothers"
"The Heroic Life and Exploits of Siegfried the Dragon-Slayer"
"The Good-Natured Bear, A Tale"
"The Story without an End"
"Sir Calidore"
"The Glow Worm"
"The Pied Piper of Hamelin"

First American Editions of "The King of The Golden River; OR The Black Brothers", by John Ruskin, [first British Edition was published in 1851; first listed American edition was published in 1860, both were illustrated by Richard Doyle]. This 1856' edition is not listed! The story is published anonymous, but with the Note "The King of the Golden River was written in 1841, at the request of a very young lady, and solely for her amusement, without any idea of publication. It has since remained in the possession of a friend, to whose suggestion, and the passive assent of the author, the publishers are indebted the opportunity of printing it".

"Ruskin's influence extends far beyond the field of art history. The author Leo Tolstoy described him as "one of those rare men who think with their heart." Marcel Proust was a Ruskin enthusiast and translated his works into French. Mahatma Gandhi said that Ruskin had been the single greatest influence in his life."

Charles Howland Hammatt Billings [1818-1874] was an artist and architect from Boston, Massachusetts.

Among his works are the original illustrations for "Uncle Tom's Cabin" [both the initial printing and an expanded 1853 edition], the National Monument to the Forefathers, the Civil War monument in Concord, Mass., and the 19th-century granite canopy [since replaced] for the Plymouth Rock memorial. He worked for some years with his brother Joseph Edward Billings, also an architect. He was the artist of one of the well-noted portrayals of the Battle of Lexington.

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