Author: Mrs. Molesworth. Illustrated by Walter Crane.
Title: The Children of the Castle.
Publisher: London, Macmillan & Co., 1890. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: viii–196 pp. + 60 pp. publisher’s catalogue.
Binding: Attractive and very good original red cloth with striking pictorial black-stamped design by Walter Crane to front board and spine; lettering in gilt to spine (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing and toning - as shown, endpapers worn, with inner hinges showing wear but still tight and holding firmly - as shown.). 
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout in line by Walter Crane, including a frontispiece and six full-page plates, all present as called for in the list of illustrations.

The book: A handsome example of one of Mrs. Molesworth’s most charming children’s stories, made especially desirable by Walter Crane’s boldly stylized illustrations and his distinctive Arts and Crafts–inflected cover design. The tale follows a small group of children who befriend a mysterious old man living near a ruined castle, and through curiosity, compassion, and imagination gradually uncover his past. Told with Molesworth’s characteristic blend of gentle moral reflection and quiet emotional insight, the story moves between everyday childhood life and a subtly romantic, almost fairy-tale atmosphere. The vibrant red pictorial binding is visually striking on the shelf, while the 60-page Macmillan catalogue adds attractive period context for collectors of late-Victorian children’s books.

The author: Mrs. Molesworth (Mary Louisa Molesworth, 1839–1921) was one of the most popular writers of imaginative children’s fiction in the late nineteenth century, known for gentle moral tales that blend domestic realism with touches of fantasy and sensitivity to a child’s inner life.

The illustrator: Walter Crane (1845–1915) was a leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement and one of the most influential children’s book illustrators of his generation, celebrated for his decorative line, rhythmic compositions, and harmonious integration of image and text.