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Father of the Modern Fairy Tale

H. C. Andersen from the Collection of Justin G. Schiller
21 – 29 April 2025

Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the death of Hans Christian Andersen, the father of the modern fairy tale, Bonhams New York is proud to offer this once in a generation collection of association copies of first editions, illustration art, autograph letters, as well as original miniature furniture decorated by Andersen with his original hand-made cutouts. The personal collection of Justin G. Schiller, a prominent collector and bookseller for more than 65 years, this fantastic sale boasts more than 35 association copies to the most important supporters in Andersen's life and career, including the Collin family, Anna Bjerring, the Balling-Naebo family, the Kochs, as well the very rare first appearances of the major fairy tales in their original form, such as "The Snow Queen" (the basis for Disney's Frozen), "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and "The Princess and the Pea." Andersen's tales have inspired our favourite movies, plays, and cartoons, as well as art from 1850 to the modern day, included here are original art from his second official illustrator Lorenz Frolich, leading Vienna secessionist Heinrich Leffler, to the modern illustrations of Karl Lagerfeld for "The Emperor's New Clothes." A feast for the eyes and the imagination, a collection of this calibre will not likely be seen again for years to come.

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116 lots available

ANDERSEN PHOTO WITH A LOCK OF HIS HAIR. Photographic portrait, gelatin silver print, bust in right profile,

ORIGINAL PORTRAIT FROM LIFE OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. J. KAYSER, artist. Bust portrait of Andersen from life, pencil on paper, oval, 220 x 150 mm, J. KAYSER. C. 1813-1853. Portrait of Hans Christian Andersen. Pencil on paper, oval, 220 x 150 mm,

ANDERSEN SITS FOR A PORTRAIT. [HANSEN, GEORG EMIL. 1833-1891.] H.C. Andersen. Glass plate photographic negative, being a portrait of Hans Christian Andersen, seated,

ORIGINAL PORTRAIT OF H.C. ANDERSEN. OAKLEY, THORNTON. 1881-1953. Pen-and-ink bust portrait of Hans Christian Andersen, signed below "T. Oakley/1938" for Scandinavia Beckons,

ORIGINAL WOODBLOCK PRINTING PLATE. [ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN. 1805-1875.] Original woodblock plate for Vilhelm Rosenstand's woodcut illustration for Andersen's Samlede Skrifter published in Copenhagen by C.A. Reitzel in 1876.

CONSTRUCTIVIST COVER BY EL LISSITZKY. ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN. 1805-1875. Mayselekh [Fairy Tales]. Kiev: Kiever Farlag, 1919.

ANDERSEN BY DE STIJL. VAN DER LECK, BART. 1876-1958. ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN. 1805-1875. Het Vlas. Amsterdam: N.V. de Spiegel, 1941.

ILLUSTRATIONS FOR ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES. LOGRIPPO, ROBERT. B. 1947. 17 interior illustrations for Andersen's Fairy Tales and Stories, the 1977 Franklin Mint edition,

STHOLL ILLUSTRATED ANDERSEN. STHOLL, JEAN-PIERRE. B. 1951. Illustrator. La fille du roi de la vase. La petite fille qui marcha sur le pain. [Paris]: Remarque, [1975].

EARLY PUBLICATIONS OF ANDERSEN'S WORKS. A group of early Danish publications by Hans Christian Andersen.

PERIODICAL APPEARANCES. A large group of works in periodicals by Hans Christian Andersen.

EARLY ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS. A group of early publications in English by Hans Christian Andersen.

ENGLISH IMPRINTS. A large group of works by Hans Christian Andersen in English.

ANDERSEN TRANSLATED INTO THE LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD. A group of works by Hans Christian Andersen in various languages.

DANISH IMPRINTS OF ANDERSEN'S WORKS. A large group of works by Hans Christian Andersen in Danish.

DANISH IMPRINTS OF ANDERSEN'S WORKS. A large group of works by Hans Christian Andersen in Danish.

DANISH IMPRINTS OF ANDERSEN'S WORKS. A large group of works by Hans Christian Andersen in Danish.

MUSICAL SCORES INSPIRED BY ANDERSEN'S STORIES. A group of publications of sheet music based upon stories by Hans Christian Andersen.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND REFERENCES ON HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. A large group of bibliographic and reference material relating to Hans Christian Andersen.

ILLUSTRATIONS INSPIRED BY ANDERSEN'S TALES. A group of illustrated editions of Andersen's works.

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