Overview
Identification is confirmed by the title page and copyright page, which explicitly state 'New Edition, 1948', publisher Longmans, Green and Co., and illustrator Marc Simont.
Identification
Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, 1948 New Edition, Illustrated by Marc Simont
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Story
Andrew Lang's 'Red Fairy Book' was originally published in 1890 as part of his famous 12-volume colored fairy book series. In 1948, Longmans, Green and Co. issued a 'New Edition' series to refresh the Victorian classics for a post-war audience. This specific edition features bold, stylized illustrations by Marc Simont, adding significant crossover appeal for collectors of mid-century graphic design.
Maker / Origin
Longmans, Green and Co.
Condition & Value
The book retains its original dust jacket, which is the primary value driver here, though some edge wear and chipping are visible on the front panel. Value in this collector tier is highly dependent on the jacket's spine being intact and the pages being free of childhood scribbles or heavy foxing.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
The market for mid-century children's book illustrations has a dedicated collector base, particularly for works by noted artists like Caldecott Medalist Marc Simont. Andrew Lang's 'Fairy Books' are perennial favorites, but the market heavily bifurcates: bare reading copies move slowly at low price points, while copies retaining crisp, original dust jackets command strong premiums and sell quickly to nostalgia buyers and illustration art collectors.
Value Drivers
▲ Presence of the original 1948 dust jacket, a rare survival for children's books of this era
▲ Illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Marc Simont provide strong crossover appeal
▲ Confirmed 1948 'New Edition' first printing status
Concerns
▼ Unverified dust jacket spine condition — significant loss or sun-fading would reduce shelf appeal and drop the estimate toward the lower end
▼ Unverified dust jacket flaps — a clipped price flap removes the 'complete' premium for strict collectors
Best Venue
List on a specialized platform like eBay or AbeBooks targeting vintage children's book collectors. Before photographing for sale, place the dust jacket in an archival Mylar cover to prevent further chipping and to dramatically improve listing presentation. Ensure you provide clear photos of the jacket spine, the inner flaps (showing the price if unclipped), and the title page.
Upside Potential
If the dust jacket spine is bright and fully intact, the flaps are unclipped, and the interior is pristine without any ownership inscriptions, the book could reach or exceed the high end of the range, competing with the highest asking prices for premium mid-century Simont editions.
▾Also found — market-range context
Related comps outside the valuation band· 1 comp
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.
Also found — market-range context
Related comps outside the valuation band· 1 comp
- InvaluableSold at Auction: Andrew Lang Fairy BooksGeneral lot of Andrew Lang Fairy Books, not specifically the 1948 Red Fairy Book.No price