The Nursery Rhyme Book

The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang Frederick Warne and Co. 1897 is a richly illustrated late Victorian collection of traditional English nursery rhymes, edited by the noted folklorist and man of letters Andrew Lang and published in 1897 by Frederick Warne and Co.. Created during the golden age of illustrated children’s books, The Nursery Rhyme Book forms part of Lang’s broader contribution to the preservation and popularization of folklore and traditional verse for young readers.

In The Nursery Rhyme Book, Lang gathered together a wide range of well-known rhymes, lullabies, counting songs, and playful verses that had been transmitted orally across generations. The collection includes enduring favourites such as “Humpty Dumpty,” “Little Bo-Peep,” “Jack and Jill,” and “Hey Diddle Diddle,” presented in carefully edited form while retaining their rhythmic vitality and whimsical charm. Lang approached nursery rhymes not merely as children’s entertainment but as cultural artefacts, recognising their historical depth and their role in shaping early literary imagination.

A defining feature of the 1897 Frederick Warne and Co. edition is its extensive illustration, most notably by L. Leslie Brooke, whose detailed line work and lively character renderings bring the verses vividly to life. The integration of image and text reflects the high production standards associated with late nineteenth-century British children’s publishing. Decorative borders, period typography, and full-page plates contribute to the book’s visual appeal, making it as much a collector’s item as a reading copy.

For collectors of Victorian children’s literature and admirers of classic illustrated books, The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang Frederick Warne and Co. 1897 stands as an enduring example of traditional rhyme preserved with literary care and artistic distinction. It remains a significant artifact of its era, celebrating the imaginative world of childhood through both poetry and illustration.

Condition: Good – Green cloth covered boards with gilt text is faded in places and has a moist exposure stain top right which protrudes to the end paper. Decorative gilt on green spine is also fading and have minor damage. Decorative end paper and spine is slightly separated with signs of a repair being done. light foxing and page discoloration throughout. Prior ownership in black ink. Gilt text block edges very clean with some wear to the bottom edges.