Walter Crane. The Sleeping Beauty Picture Book, containing the Sleeping Beauty, The Baby’s Own Alphabet and Bluebeard. New York, Dodd, Mead and Co., 1911.

Sleeping Beauty is an old fairy tale that has had many incarnations. One of the best known, is this version by the prolific Children’s Book Illustrator, Walter Crane. Crane is an interesting artist who studied under William Morris, one of the founders and great artists of the Arts and Crafts movement. Crane is known for some fine art pieces, but his contributions to the nursery book arts are legendary, during its heyday at the end of the 1800’s and early 1900’s. This edition also has Bluebeard’s Story and Baby’s Own Alphabet. I’ve included all the plates for Sleeping Beauty, but only the first plates of the other 2 stories. The last plate of Sleeping Beauty is my favourite – I think she looks rather stunned to find herself so suddenly awake and rapidly married. If you’re interested you can see the entire book at the Internet Archive, where you can always read the whole book.

via: The Internet Archive

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 1.

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 2.

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 3.

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 4

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 5.

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 6.

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 7.

Walter Crane’s Sleeping Beauty Page 8.

Walter Crane’s Baby’s Own Alphabet, Page 1.

Walter Crane’s Bluebeard, Page 1.