The Water Babies: A Fairy Story for a Land Baby by Charles, Kingsley; Ethel F. Everett; Katherine G. Carpenter; Elizabeth Pilsbry - 1930

Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co., 1930. Hardcover. First thus. Good+ clothbound hardcover with a color plate to the front with a gilt border and gilt titling to the spine with rubbing to the extremities, a dust-dulled top edge, darkening to the spine with dulling to the gilt, and tiny spots of insect-predation to parts of the back panel; the interior is clean with lightly tanned text pages, all plates present, and hinges secure; in a Fair to Good dust jacket, complete but separated at one fold with rubbing to the front folds, small chips to the extremities, and a light name to the front. All dust jackets are protected by a clear mylar cover. BOOKS SHIP THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, WRAPPED IN PADDING, IN A BOX. "First published in 1863, the Reverend Charles Kingsley's classic tale was written as part satire in support of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species. The story was extremely popular in England, and was a mainstay of British children's literature for many decades, but eventually fell out of favor in part due to its prejudices against the Irish, Jews, Catholics and Americans. The story is thematically concerned with Christian redemption, though Kingsley also uses the book to argue that England treats its poor badly, and to question child labour, among other themes." Written by Charles Kingsley; illustrated by Ethel F. Everett; cover illustration by Elizabeth Pilsbry; introduction and notes by Katherine G. Carpenter. xiv + 282 pages + decorated endpapers; 8 color plates including frontis; 6.25 x 8.75 inches.