London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1914. First edition. Trade issue (also issued in a deluxe signed limited format, bound in vellum). A beautiful, Near Fine copy. Publisher's dark blue cloth with pictorial gilt. Minor rubbing to extremities and a slight scratch to upper board. Some foxing to closed top edge of text block. Binding a bit loose, but still holding firm. Overall, an excellent example of Kay Nielsen's masterpiece, one of the most beloved books of the Golden Age of Illustration.

"By general consent, Nielsen's most spectacular and celebrated book is East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Old Tales from the North, translated from the Norwegian of Peter C. Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe (devoted collectors of Scandinavian folk lore in the mid-nineteenth century). First published in 1914, this beautiful volume has been reprinted many times up to the present day... Nielsen's unique style and talent for combining the eerie and fantastic with beautiful decorative effect was at its peak with this set of illustrations" (Dalby, The Golden Age of Children's Book Illustration, p. 90)

East of the Sun and West of the Moon was Nielsen's second illustrated book, preceded by In Powder and Crinoline in 1913. Nielsen was the son of the director of the Royal Danish Theater and, after World War I, himself became principal designer for the Danish State Theater. His theater background led to years of artistic involvement in the Walt Disney Company, where his art was used in Fantasia. He also provided concept art for iconic films like Sleeping Beauty (1959) and The Little Mermaid (1989), which was not released until decades after his death; and he was credited as inspiring the visual development of Disney films as recent as Frozen (2013).

Grolier Children's 100, 66. Near Fine (Item #8251)