You could say that the works of Andrew Lang make for the perfect collector's items, as he produced a long run of one particular series, all bound with interesting and varied covers, and stretching over at least twenty years. I am talking, of course, of his life's work The Fairy Books. Starting with the first book in he series known as The Blue Fairy Book - originally called so because of its striking ultramarine cover, with gold leaf design in the illustration.
What followed from there was a run of 'color' fairy books such as The Red Fairy Book, Green, Lilac, Pink, Grey, and so on stretching from 1889 to 1910, and numbering twelve copies. They remain a pillar in the mythographic and folkloric communities, forming an important part of the Classical Revival of the turn of the nineteenth century (with such works as the Rubayiit of Omar Khayam, 1001 Arabian Nights being translated for the first time, and adding to the swell of interest in world religions, spiritual traditions and myths). Andrew Lang indeed, was a fundamental figure to that western 'discovery' of Near-Eastern and Eastern world heritage; himself an anthropologist and founding fellow of the Psychical Research Society. The fact is, is Andrew Lang's works on folklore are only the tip of the iceberg compared to his output as a man of letters. He wrote easily three to ten books every year from publishing the first The Blue Fairy Book, with such works as treatises and discussions of Golf, or professional anthropological texts, and biographies of famous figures.
The most notable of his works remains The Blue Fairy Book, and a first edition in very good condition hardback, published 1889 from Longmans and Green is still worth $750 and upwards (particularly if the front gold-leaf illustration is in very good condition). In addition to this, a complete set of all twelve of the fairy books would be worth considerably more again, if brought as a unit. A collection of the individually printed first editions could be worth easily upwards of $7000. It is still possible to buy a limited edition 'set' of all of the Fairy Books, printed at the end of Lang's life by his publisher Longman's and Green, in a hardcover set. If in fine condition with all of the books present (1910) then this set can be worth between $8000 and $15000!
LANG,ANDREW. GOLD OF FAIRNILEE. (1880). Illustrated with 15 beautiful chromolithographs (frontis by T. SCOTT, other by E.A. LEMANN) and printed on handmade paper
Lang, Andrew. THE LIBRARY. Macmillan and Co, London (1881). With a Chapter on Modern English Illustrated Books by Austin Dobson; frontispiece, with tissue guard, and initial drawn by Walter Crane; 185 copies.
Lang,Andrew. The Princess Nobody. Longmans Green and Co., London (1884). A Tale of Fairyland; text with coloured and sepia illustrations by Richard Doyle
Lang,Andrew. In the Wrong Paradise and Other Stories. Kegan Paul, Trench and Co, London (1887).
Lang,Andrew. In the Wrong Paradise and Other Stories. Harper and Brothers, New York (1887).
Lang,Andrew. Johnny Nut and the Golden Goose. Longmans Green, London (1887). Done into English from the French of Charles Deulin; illustrations and decorations throughout by A.M.Lyne
Lang, Andrew. Myth, Ritual, and Religion. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1887). 2 volumes.
Lang, Andrew. BLUE FAIRY BOOK. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1889). With numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford and G.P. Jacomb Hood; 113 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Blue Fairy Book. A. L. Burt Company, New York (1890).
Lang, Andrew. Blue Fairy Book. Longman Green, London (1890).
Lang, Andrew. Red Fairy Book. Longmans Green and Co, London (1890). b/w frontis, illustrated title,367 pages,4 full page b/white and numerous in text illustrations by H.J.Ford and lancelot Speed; 113 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. The Strife of Love in a Dream. Published by David Nutt in the Strand, London (1890). Being the Elizabethan Version of the First Book of the Hypnerotomachia of Francesco Colonna; 500 copies printed; Lang, Andrew (ed., trans.).
Haggard, Sir Henry Rider. The World's Desire. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1890). Andrew Lang
Haggard, Rider. The World's Desire. Harper and Brothers, New York (1890). Andrew Lang
Lang, Andrew. ANGLING SKETCHES. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1891). with 3 etchings and numerous illustrations by W.G. Burn-Murdoch; 150 copies printed.
Hutchinson, Horace G. Famous Golf Links. Longmans, Green, London (1891). Andrew Lang, H.S.C. Everard, T. Rutherford Clark, etc;Illustrated with 18 plates from paintings and photographs after C.J. Emery, H.P. Hopkins and H.S. King
Lang, Andrew. The Blue Poetry Book. New York (1891). Illustrated by H. J. Ford and Lancelot Speed; 150 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Blue Poetry Book. Longmans Green and Co, London (1891). 351 Illustrated throughout with full page and in-text steel engravings by H.J. Ford and Lancelot Speed; 150 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. A Batch Of Golfing Papers. A.M. Holden, St Andrews / Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, London (1892). Includes The Chelah's Round, by Andrew Lang, Ballade of the Duffer, by W. Caine, The Caddies of St Andrews, by R. Whyte Gibson and Dictionary of Golf, by D. Irons
Lang, Andrew. Green Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, New York (1892).
Lang, Andrew. Green Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1892). frontis leaf, w/numerous black and white illustrations by Henry Justice Ford; 150 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. The Library. London Macmillan and Co (1892). With a Chapter on Modern English Illustrated Books by Austin Dobson;with 3 plates and 21 woodcuts; 300 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Homer and the Epic. Longmans, Green, London (1893). 107 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Homer and the Epic. Longmans Green, New York (1893). 107 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia. J.W. Arrowsmith, Bristol (1893). BROWNE,GORDON; Being the Adventures of Prince Prigio's Son, By Andrew Lang Author of Prince Prigio; Illustrated by Gordon Browne with 12 plates plus 12 illus. in text.
Lang, Andrew. The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies. David Nutt, London (1893). Or, a Treatise displayeing the Chiefe Curiosities as they are in Use among diverse of the People of Scotland to this Day; Singularities for the most Part peculiar to that Nation; A Subject not heretofore discoursed of by any of our Writers.A Study in Folk-lore and Psychical Research; The Text by Robert Kirk AD 1691, the Comment by Andrew Lang; 550 copies printed in first edition.
Lang, Andrew. Tercentenary of Izaak Walton. Printed for Private Circulation Only by Thomas J. Wise, London (1893). Frontispiece portrait and ten illustrations; 30 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. True Story Book. Longmans, Green and Co, New York (1893). Illustations by L. Bogle, Lucien Davis, H. J. Ford, Lancelot Speed and C. H. M. Kerr; 150 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. True Story Book. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1893). With numerous illustrations by L. Bogle, Lucien Davis, H.J.Ford, C.H.M.Kerr, and Lancelot Speed; 150 copies in limited edition.
Lang, Andrew. Cock Lane and Common-Sense. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1894). 60 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Yellow Fairy Book. Longmans, London (1894). w/ 21 full-page and 82 in-text black and white illustrations by Henry Justice Ford; 140 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Red True Story Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1895). with numerous illustrations by Henry J. Ford. H. Rider Haggard; Adaptations and translations by Mr. and Mrs. Lang, S.R. Crockett, May Kendall, Mrs. Bovill, Minnie Wright, and Agnes Repplier, from original works by Froissart, Icelandic sagas, William Hickling Prescott, and various othertrue sources
Lang, Andrew. Animal Story Book. Longman's, Green and Co, London (1896). Illustrations by H.J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Book of Dreams and Ghosts. Longmans' Green and Co, New York (1897).
Lang, Andrew. Book of Dreams and Ghosts. Longmans Green and Co, London (1897).
Lang, Andrew. Nursery Rhyme Book. Frederick Warne and Co, New York (1897).
Lang, Andrew. Nursery Rhyme Book. Frederick Warne and Co, London (1897). Illustrated by L Leslie Brooke.
Lang, Andrew. Pink Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1897). With numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford; Tales include: The Snow-Queen; The Flying Trunk and How the Dragon was Tricked.
Lang, Andrew. Pink Fairy Book. Longmans Green, New York (1898). Numerous B/W Illustrations By H. J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Arabian Nights Entertainments. Longmans, Green and Co, New York (1898). Illustrated throughout in black and white by H. J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Arabian Nights Entertainments. Longmans Green and Co, London (1898). Illustrated with 33 full page plates and 33 textual illustrations, all by H. J. Ford; 75 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Prince Charles Edward. Goupil and Co., London (1900). 1500 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Prince Charles Edward. Goupil and Co., and Manzi, Joyant and Co., London (1900). CHARLES EDWARD, PRINCE; 350 copies printed in first edition; 2 frontispieces, one of which is hand-coloured, 70 plates, 12 head and tail pieces
Lang, Andrew. Prince Charles Edward. Goupil, Paris (1900). 350 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Grey Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1900). contains 35 brief fairy tales, includingThe Goblin Pony,The Goat-faced Girl,Udea and her Seven Brothers,The Street Musicians andPrunella.; With Numerous Illustrations by H. J. Ford.
Lang, Andrew. Blue Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1901). with plentiful illustrations by H.J. Ford and G.P. Jacomb Hood
Lang, Andrew. Violet Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1901). Eight colour plates and numerous black and white drawings by H.J. Ford
Scott, Sir Walter. Waverley Novels. Macmillan and Co, London (1901). 24 volumes set; With Introductory Essay and Notes by, LANG, Andrew; Approximately 10 plates of etchings per volume (over 250 in total) all with original tissue guard
Lang, Andrew. Book of Romance. Longmans Green and Co, London (1902). Includes the Arthurian legends and Robin Hood stories; With a colour frontispiece, 7 coloured plates, 35 black and white plates, in text illustrations, all by H. J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Book of Romance. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1903). Frontispiece by H. J. Ford in color, plus 7 additional color and 35 black and white plates, with text illustrations, all tissue guards present
Lang, Andrew. Social Origins. Longmans, Green, London (1903). Incorporating ATKINSON, J.J.: Primal Law
Lang, Andrew. BOOK OF ROMANCE. Longmans Green and Co (1903). with 8 coloured and 35 black and white plates, and 8 text illustrations, by H.J.Ford
Lang, Andrew. Crimson fairy book. Longmans, Green, London (1903). eight color plates including frontispiece and numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Brown Fairy Book. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1904). With Eight Coloured Plates and Numerous Illustrations by H. J. Ford; contains 32 tales includingThe Elf Maiden,The Mermaid and the Boy,The Enchanted Head,The Sister of the Sun andThe Prince and the Three Fates.
Lang, Andrew. Secret of the Totem. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1905).
Lang, Andrew. The Orange Fairy Book. Longmans Green and Co, London (1906). Tissue guarded colour frontisplus seven colour and 17 bw plates by H.J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Olive Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1907). With Eight Coloured Plates and Numerous Illustrations by H. J. Ford; contains 29 brief fairy tales, includingThe Green Knight,The Satin Surgeon,The Billy Goat and the King,The Snake Prince andThe Silent Princess.
Lang, Andrew. Princes and Princesses. Longmans Green and Co, London (1908). 8 colour plates incl. frontispiece and numerous wood-engraved illustrations throughout text by H.J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Book of Princes and Princess. Longmans, Green, and Co, New York (1908). 17 full-page plates (8 in full color, 9 in black and white), 34 black and white drawings in text by H.J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Red Book of Heroes. Longmans Green and Co, London (1909). 8 colour plates incl. frontispiece and numerous wood-engraved illustrations throughout text by A. Wallis Mills
Lang, Andrew. Lilac Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, And Co, New York (1910). Six colour plates and b/w illustrations by H. J. Ford
Lang, Andrew. Lilac Fairy Book. Longmans, Green, and Co, London (1910). Colour frontispiece and 5 plates, 20 engraved plates, illustrations throughout by H. J. Ford.
Lang, Andrew. The All Sorts of Stories Book. Longmans Green and Co, London (1911). Mrs. Lang; Collection of thirty stories. Some of the stories are: The Battle of the White Bull, The Serpents' Gift, The Vanishing of Bathurst, The Flight of the King, Aunt Margaret's Mirror, The Prisoner of the Chateau d'If, The Story of the Gold Beetle, Loreta Velazquez the Military Spy, The Sword of D'Artagnan, Little General Monk, The Wrck of the 'Drake' and others; 5 colour plates incl. frontispiece and numerous wood-engraved illustrations throughout text by H.J. Ford.
Lang, Andrew. RED FAIRY BOOK. Longmans, Green and Co, London (1914). With numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford and Lancelot Speed
Lang, Andrew. RED FAIRY BOOK. (1920). Illustrated by H.J. FORD and Lancelot Speed with chromolithographed frontis and many black and white's.
Lang, Andrew. Idyls of Theocritus. Medici Society, London (1922). The Idylls of Bion and Moschus; Two Volumes; 500 copies printed; Rendered into English Prose by Andrew Lang after Drawings by W. Russell Flint
Lang, Andrew. Theocritus. Medici Society, London (1922). Bion and Moschus, Rendered Into English Prose; Illustrated by Flint, W. Russell; 500 copies
Lang, Andrew. Poetical Works. Longmans, Green, London (1923). Edited by Mrs. Lang; 4 volumes; 1075 copies printed.
Homer. Odyssey of Homer. Medici Society, London (1924). Done Into English Prose By S. H. Butcher and Andrew Lang; With 20 tipped-iin color plates from watercolors by William Russell Fint; 530 copies printed.
Lang, Andrew. Red Fairy Book. David MacKay, Philadelphia (1924). Gustav Tenggren (fronispiece); full red cloth with color cover plate and 8 color plates plus title page by Gustaf Tenggren.
Lang, Andrew. AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE. Limited Editions Club, Prague (1931). Translated with an introduction by Andrew Lang; Designed and illustrated by Vojtech Preissig; 1500 copies .