The Australian Wonder Book - Contains Four Complete Books:
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The Little Black Princess by Mrs Aeneas Gunn
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The Other Side Of Nowhere by Tarella Quin Daskein & Illustrated by
Ida Rentoul Outhwaite
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The Prince Of The Totem by Tarlton Rayment
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Winks: The Mystery And Magic Of The Bush by J.J. Hall
Published by Home Entertainment Library: Melbourne 1935
A stunning, unmarked copy with all illustrations present.
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The Australian Wonder Book, published in Melbourne in 1935, is a beautifully produced omnibus volume bringing together four of the most beloved Australian children's classics of the early twentieth century. The collection opens with The Little Black Princess by Mrs Aeneas Gunn, a tender memoir-style narrative about Bett-Bett, the young Aboriginal girl whose spirited personality and close bond with the author made the story one of Australia's most enduring early works about First Nations childhood. It is followed by The Other Side of Nowhere, a suite of imaginative fairy tales by Tarella Quin Daskien, richly accompanied by the delicate, instantly recognisable illustrations of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, whose work defined the golden age of Australian fantasy illustration.
The volume continues with The Prince of the Totem by Tarlton Rayment—an enchanting blend of myth, nature lore and storytelling that draws deeply on Australian fauna and folklore. Rayment's gift for animating the bush through expressive characterisation gives the tales a timeless, almost legendary quality. Completing the collection is Winks: The Mystery and Magic of the Bush by J.J. Hall, in which bush creatures, adventure, and gentle moral lessons intermingle to create stories that blend whimsy with the unique mood of the Australian landscape. Each work stands on its own merits, yet together they form a sweeping representation of the country's early literary imagination for young readers.
This 1935 Home Entertainment Library edition is particularly desirable: a stunning, unmarked copy retaining all original illustrations and plates, including Outhwaite's highly collectible artwork. Printed and bound in Australia, the volume represents a significant moment in local publishing history, showcasing national stories created by Australian authors and artists for Australian children. An outstanding copy suitable for collectors of early Australian children's literature, fans of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, and anyone seeking a beautifully preserved example of interwar Australiana."
Light wear to covers and spine with a small split only to outer spine as shown. A clean, unmarked copy with no inscriptions. Binding is excellent with no loose pages. All illustrations present. A stunning and beautiful copy, rare in this condition. Please study photos to further understand condition.
