[Nicol, George]

The Story of the Three Bears. London: Porter and Wright, 1837, oblong 12mo (105 x 135mm.), FIRST EDITION, with 11 engraved plates, original pictorial boards rebacked with buckram, boards lightly soiled and rubbed, ink ownership inscription to verso of front free endpaper; [together with]

The Great Bear's Story: The Vizier and the Woodman. London: Wright, 1840, oblong 12mo (105 x 135mm.), FIRST EDITION, with 12 engraved plates, original pictorial boards rebacked with buckram, boards lightly soiled and rubbed, the same ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, inner hinges repaired; each in a collector's blue morocco box (2)

see Osborne pp.606-607

FIRST EDITION OF THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS IN VERSIFIED AND BOOK FORM. The tale first appeared in The Doctor (1837) edited by Robert Southey, and then at Christmas as a story adapted into verse by "G.N.". In the Dedication, Nicol acknowledges the anonymous author of The Doctor as "the great, original concocter" of the tale. Southey was delighted with this attempt to bring more exposure to his story, concerned children might overlook its first publication in a literary magazine without illustrations.