Once Upon A Time A Book Of Old Time Fairy Tales 1993 Checkerboard Press Edition Appraisal

Once Upon a Time: A Book of Old-Time Fairy Tales (1993 Checkerboard Press Edition)

This item is a 1993 reprint edition of 'Once Upon a Time: A Book of Old-Time Fairy Tales,' featuring illustrations by Margaret Evans Price. The title page showcases a large, stylized serif font for the main title in a reddish-orange hue, flanked by two black circular floral motifs. Below, the subtitle and credits for editor Katharine Lee Bates and illustrator Margaret Evans Price are printed in black. A central circular illustration depicts a fairy tale scene with a character in a dramatic, eye-patterned cloak holding a wand next to a small imp-like figure. The book was published by Checkerboard Press in New York. While the original illustrations date back to 1921, this specific printing is a late 20th-century modern edition. The paper appears to be an off-white, semi-matte stock typical of mass-market children's hardcovers from the early 1990s. Visible condition observations include slight tonal variations on the page edges, minor foxing or soiling spots near the bottom left corner and side margins, and potential softening of the paper corners. The binding edge on the left shows a slight unevenness, suggesting a standard glued or commercial stitch binding common for high-volume press runs. This edition carries ISBN 1-56288-256-X and represents a nostalgic revival of early 20th-century Golden Age children's book aesthetics produced for a contemporary audience.