Fox Tales
Vintage Picture Book Children's Animal Stories Collectible First Edition British Folk Tales Bedtime Story Anthology Fox & Trickster Legends Read-Aloud Family Book
First-edition copies of Ruth Manning-Sanders’ “Fox Tales” (1976) are scarce in any condition, and this hardcover still has its original dust-jacket artwork—exactly what collectors of vintage British picture-books hunt for. Manning-Sanders, the much-loved folklorist who gave the world “A Book of Dragons” and “A Book of Witches,” turns her attention here to the sly, dazzling fox of world legend. The stories—perfect for read-aloud bedtime sessions with ages 2-8 yet witty enough for adults—follow Reynard-type heroes through forests, farms and moonlit fields, keeping the suspense gentle and the language lyrical. Each chapter is paired with lively period illustrations that capture the russet flash of a fox’s tail or the hush of a snowy farmyard, making the volume as much an art object as a storybook.
What makes this particular copy special is its 1976 first-printing status: no book-club blind stamp, no later-edition gloss, just the matte, color-true jacket and the heavy, cream-colored pages that modern reprints never reproduce. The dust jacket shows only light scuffing and one small, archival-repairable edge tear, while the interior remains tight and square—no dog-eared corners, no ex-library marks, no sun-fading to the spine. A neat gift inscription on the front free endpaper is the sole handwriting, so the text block itself is unmarked and perfect for reading or display. Top-edge foxing (the pale speckling common to post-war British presses) is minimal and noted strictly for accuracy; it does not affect readability or value.
Parents looking for heirloom bedtime stories, teachers building a vintage classroom library, or collectors filling a Manning-Sanders shelf will appreciate how this copy balances “shelf appeal” with affordability. Because the book straddles genres—animal story, nursery folklore, collectible mid-century illustration—it surfaces in searches for “vintage fox children’s book,” “1970s animal tales,” or “first edition Ruth Manning-Sanders,” ensuring steady demand. Secure this copy now and you hold a 48-year-old classic that is already harder to find than most of the author’s better-known dragon and giant titles.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now