"Poems of Childhood" by Eugene Field, illustrated with color plates by Maxfield Parrish, published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, MCMIV (1904) on the title page, copyright 1904 by Charles Scribner's Sons. Published September, 1904. First Edition, First state of the first printing with captions on the tissue guards, thin gray endpapers, untrimmed bottom page edges, no publisher's catalog, and no printer's colophon on the last page. [BAL 5857]. All listed color plates by Parrish are present.

Original later state dust with un-clipped price of $2.00 on the front flap [several damages]; jacket is protected in mylar cover, hard boards, original publisher's cloth with Parrish's illustration on the front board; 7" x 9.1/2"; illustrated endpapers, inscription dated '1907' on the first blank page, x + 2 + 199 pages + 3 blanks + complete all 8 listed color plates on glossy paper by Parrish are present; all tissue guards are fine, gilt upper page edges, the pages were rough opened; very good condition. See photos.

Eugene Field (1850-1895), was an unusual poet. He was one of the few poets who wrote only children's poetry. That is how he got his nickname, The Children's Poet. Some of his most famous poems are "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod"; "The Duel"; and "Little Boy Blue".

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was born in Philadelphia in 1870. His artistic talents were encouraged by his parents and though it was initially architecture that beckoned him, it was quite obvious that he would be an artist. His college work was remarkably sophisticated. In 1893 he approached Howard Pyle in hopes of getting instruction, but he was told that Pyle had nothing to teach him. Parrish audited a few of Pyle's classes at the Drexel Institute and came to the same conclusion. It was time to start a long and respected career. By 1900, Parrish was an established, successful artist with membership in the Society of American Artists, and a custom built studio on the New Hampshire-Vermont border.

Parrish art was in magazines, books and was receiving recognition in the exhibits and expositions. Most significantly, the public was enamored with his images. A trip to Arizona in early 1902 resulted in a suite of seven color plates that seem to have been crafted with the earliest versions of the new "varnish" technique above and capture the colors and light of the desert. Book illustrations were equally in demand. His post-1900 color output included: "Italian Villas and Their Gardens" and "Poems of Childhood" (1904), "The Arabian Nights" (1909), "A Wonder Book" and "Tanglewood Tales" (1910) and "The Knave of Hearts" (1925). He lived his entire life at his New Hampshire home/studio at The Oaks.

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