Daughters of the Stars, The

London: Hatchard & Co., 1939. A Fairy Story Full of Grace, Beauty, Wit, Humor and Charm"

[DULAC, Edmund, illustrator]. CRARY, Mary. The Daughters of the Stars. Illustrated by Edmund Dulac. London: Hatchard & Co., 1939.

First edition. One of 500 numbered copies (this copy being No. 233), signed by the author and the artist. Quarto (10 1/8 x 7 15/16 inches; 257 x 201 mm.). [10], 189, [1], [1, printer's imprint], [1, blank] pp. Two color plates.

Original quarter vellum over gray cloth boards. Spine with navy leather label lettered in gilt. Corners a little bit bumped. One small chip to spine label. An excellent copy.

"Publication of this book encountered delays and difficulties because of the outbreak of World War II. Since paper and workmen were fast being commandeered by the British government, the book was rushed into print despite the fact that only 2 Dulac illustrations were finished. Once published, the book received mixed reviews. It was featured at Christmas 1939 as ‘Something sane in a mad world' in Hatchard's show windows in Piccadilly...The following spring, in America, The New York Times critic (June 3, 1940) was less enthusiastic in his review of the book, saying ‘...for most young readers the book will seem too long drawn out...' but added ‘Dulac has supplied two lovely pictures in blue and silver tones'...The redoubtable William Lyon Phelps of Yale also wrote a review stating that Mary Crary's book ‘...is a fairy story full of grace, beauty, wit humor and charm...It is meant to be very high praise when I add that the illustrations by Dulac are worthy of the book. They add to its beauty'" (Hughey).

Dulac designed the entire format of the volume, including chapter head and tail scroll designs.

Hughey 91.