An exceptional copy of the 1904 Poems of Childhood, published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, featuring the first illustrated edition adorned with the luminous artistry of Maxfield Parrish. This volume is paired with a rare later dust jacket (circa 1924), seldom seen in such well-preserved condition.
 
📚 About the Book
Inspired by Edward Bok, editor of Ladies’ Home Journal, this beloved collection showcases Parrish’s enchanting illustrations—five originally commissioned for the magazine, with additional pieces created specifically for this edition. The result is a visual and poetic treasure, containing many of Eugene Field’s most enduring works, including:
•  Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
•  The Sugar-Plum Tree
•  The Duel (The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat)
 
📐 Format & Binding
•  Large 8vo.  199 pp.
•  Black cloth boards with bright gilt spine titles
•  Full-color pastedown illustration by Parrish on front cover
•  Illustrated endpapers; deckled outer and lower edges
•  Binding tight and square; corners lightly bumped; spine tips softened
•  Minor cloth chipping along spine edges; some upper page creasing from original production
•  Rear pages (193–199) roughly opened, resulting in edge tears
 
🧥 Dust Jacket
•  Scarce brown paper jacket (ca. 1924), unpriced
•  Lists Scribner’s “$2.50 Illustrated Classics for Younger Readers” on rear panel, with titles through David Balfour (1924)
•  Light edgewear; chipping at folds and spine tips
•  A few small, closed tears, now archivally repaired with acid-free tape on verso
•  Jacket presents very well, a rare survival for this title
 
🎨 Collector’s Note
The book and jacket each feature a different Parrish cover illustration, making this pairing especially desirable. The 1904 volume stands as a landmark in early 20th-century children’s publishing, blending literary charm with golden age illustration. A standout piece for collectors of Parrish, Field, or Scribner’s illustrated classics.