A Book of Dwarfs
Bedtime Stories Folklore Fairy Tale Middle-Grade Fiction Illustrated Classics Children’s Fantasy Collector’s Edition British Fantasy
A Book of Dwarfs, the scarce 1967 first-edition hardcover from Methuen & Co, brings together the storytelling magic of Ruth Manning Sanders and the lavish pen-and-ink work of master-illustrator Robin Jacques. Between its sturdy boards lie more than a dozen traditional dwarf tales—miners, toymakers, mountain guardians—each page framed by Jacques’ intricate black-and-white plates that collectors rank alongside his best work for the Folio Society. The book’s generous 10-point type and generous margins make it an ideal read-aloud for ages 4-8, while the depth of folklore keeps teens and adult fairy-tale enthusiasts turning pages long after the younger listeners are asleep.
What makes this copy special is its clean, unmarked interior: no inscriptions, ex-libris plates, or childish scribbles—just crisp, creamy pages that smell faintly of vanilla and old paper. The binding remains tight and square, a rarity for a 55-year-old children’s book, and the dwarfs themselves march across the gutters as crisply as the day they were printed. Light shelf-rub to the jacket and endpapers is the only sign of age, so the book presents beautifully on a collector’s shelf yet is sturdy enough for bedtime reading.
Because the first printing was small and libraries quickly loved these anthologies to pieces, high-grade copies now surface almost exclusively at auction. Owning this vintage 1967 edition gives you both a nostalgia piece and a long-term investment: Manning Sanders’ dwarf lore is enjoying renewed interest through modern folk-horror retellings, and Robin Jacques’ illustrations are increasingly featured in academic surveys of mid-century British fantasy art. Whether you’re completing a Manning Sanders set, hunting classic illustrated fairy tales, or simply want a magical story-time volume that no e-reader can replicate, A Book of Dwarfs delivers enduring enchantment in a beautifully preserved hardcover format.
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