THE WATER BABIES: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby

The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby is a children's novel by Charles Kingsley. Written in 1862–63 as a serial for Macmillan's Magazine, it was first published in its entirety in 1863. It was meant as part satire in support of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species but became a mainstay of British children's literature.

The greater interest in this book may be to those who collect illustrations (although the photos here aren't great). This book was illustrated by Rosalie Fry.

Rosalie Kingsmill Fry (1911–1992) was born in Canada, but moved to Wales as a child and spent most of her life there. She trained as an artist in London and began writing stories in order to have material to accompany her illustrations. Bumblebuzz, her first book, came out in 1938. During WWII, Fry worked as a cypher officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service, while publishing books for children. She also made toys, designed stationery, and contributed illustrations to periodicals. She published more than 30 books; her best-known are The Secret of Ron MorSkerry, Snowed Up, Gypsy Princess, Mungo, Whistler in the Mist and The Secret of Roan Inish.

J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London.

No dust jacket. The cover is significantly darkened, to a turquoise and cream with bright red lettering on the cover and spine. There is minor shelf wear to the spine.

Inside, it is pristine, with 4 full-page colour illustrations, and 11 black and white, with many extra little doodles. The spine has not been cracked; it has not been read and the paper is white and bright, with a thick creamy texture. It's a beautiful book.

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