The Evergreen Tales (3 Vols in Slipcase): Aladdin / The Three Bears / Joseph & His Brothers - Limited Editions Club 1949, Illustrated by Arthur Szyk, Fritz Kredel, & William Moyers, Inscribed & Signed by Jean Hersholt (Copy 508 of 2000)

by Traditional; Robert Southey; King James Bible; Jean Hersholt

1949 Limited Editions Club (New York), three 8 x 12 1/8 inches tall cloth hardcover volumes in the publisher's original red paper-covered slipcase with a printed paper title label to the spine, decorations to front covers, lettering to spines, all beautifully illustrated in color, each volume limited and uniquely featuring a hand-signed presentation inscription by the legendary Danish-American actor, translator, and series editor Jean Hersholt. This matched set is copy number 508 of a limited edition of 2,000 copies. 

The individual volumes included in this lot are: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (39 pp., featuring color illustrated endpapers, with slight to moderate soiling to the cloth covers, especially the rear panel, and a minor crease to the tips of pages 37-38, inscribed on the limitations page "Jean Hersholt for Zelda Gazal Wortman" and signed by Hersholt); The Three Bears (unpaginated 39 pp., featuring color illustrated endpapers, showing slight soiling and rubbing especially along the fore edge of the covers, and a touch of soiling to the final page of text, featuring the identical presentation inscription to Wortman and signature by Hersholt); and The Story of Joseph and His Brothers (50 pp., featuring distinctive aqua endpapers, with the matching presentation inscription and signature by Hersholt to the limitations page). 

An overall very good + to near fine set of books housed in a structurally sound, very good original red slipcase showing minor soiling, edgewear (particularly at the entry edges where the volumes slide in), and slight chipping to the printed paper title label.

Conceived and executed under the visionary direction of George Macy, The Evergreen Tales (or, Tales for the Ageless) stands as a benchmark mid-century effort to marry classic folklore and mythology with the apex of twentieth-century book arts and graphic illustration. This specific three-volume grouping from the inaugural 1949 release features some of the most celebrated illustrators of the era. Most notably, The Story of Joseph and His Brothers is magnificently illuminated with the intricate, jewel-like color miniatures of the legendary Arthur Szyk. This is beautifully accompanied by Fritz Kredel’s lively and classic color illustrations for Aladdin, and William Moyers’ charming visual interpretation of Robert Southey’s timeless rendition of The Three Bears. 

Beyond the elite production value, this set possesses a fascinating, interconnected provenance. Each volume carries a personal, handwritten presentation inscription from Jean Hersholt to Zelda Gazal Wortman.