ANDERSEN, Hans Christian (1805-1875). Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Copenhagen: Bianco & Schneider for C. A. Reitzel, 1837. [With:] Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Copenhagen: Bianco & Schneider for C. A. Reitzel, [1838-]1842.

First and early appearances of some of Andersen's most famous fairy tales, among them "The Little Mermaid" and "The Emperor's New Clothes." The first booklet of Eventyr fortalte for Børn (Fairy tales, told for Children) was published on 8 May 1835; a second booklet appeared in December; the third in 1837. Unsold copies of the three were gathered and, as here, published with a general title dated 1837. The first booklet is the second printing, the second and third are the first. The second volume are first editions. Nielsen 266, 276, 303 for the 1837 first volume; Nielsen 325, 352, 408 for the 1842 second volume.

Two volumes, small octavo (123 x 80mm). (Some staining internally, affecting prelims and last few leaves in vol. 1 and one of the stories in vol. 2; both volumes with general titles and contents leaf but lacking prelims for booklets that follow.) Contemporary teal boards (spines perished; vol. 1 boards detached; vol. 2 one gathering loose.) Provenance: L.W. Jacobson (ownership inscription in both volumes) — (partially removed bookseller label to front endpaper of vol. 2).