DUNSANY, Lord (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany, 1878-1957). The Book of Wonder. London: William Heinemann, 1912. Oblong 8vo. [xi], 1-[97], [1, colophon] pp. Ten illustrations by S. H. Sime. Publisher's green cloth backstrip over board stamped gilt with pictorial inset; original lettered dust jacket. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING OF DUNSANY'S FIFTH COLLECTION, ILLUSTRATED BY S. H. SIME. 

The nature of Sime and Dunsany's collaboration here differs from past projects in that Sime produced the illustrations first, and Dunsany wrote his fourteen stories in response. Only the last two inclusions, "Chu-Bu and Sheemish" and "The Wonderful Window," preceded the drawings. "I found Mr Sime one day, in his strange house at Worplesdon, complaining that editors did not offer him very suitable subjects for illustration; so I said: "Why not do any pictures you like, and I will write stories explaining them, which may add a little to their mystery?"

Light soiling, minor paper loss to corners and spine block, tape repairs to reverse. Boards lightly toned and rubbed, spine sunned. Moderate foxing throughout, bookplate to ffep, hinges starting, toning to extremities, some wrinkles. Very good.