DENSLOW'S THREE BEARS by DENSLOW, W.W.: ADAPTED AND ILLUSTRATED BY W.W. DENSLOW - 1903.

New York:: G.W. Dillingham Co.,, 1903.. First edition. Cardboard Covers. Very Good. Cardboard Covers First edition Very Good From Denslow's rare Picture Books for Children series, containing 12 pamphlets published in 1903. Offered in stiff cardboard or linen these scarce 16 page stories were adaptations of the original stories. This is one of thefour stories that appeared in vers as "Denslow's Christmas Tales" in the New York Herald, December 14, 1902, (Green and Hearn). This is the stiff paper issue with green backround, color illustration of Goldilocks and The Three Bears.In 1904 the backround changed to white. The rear wrap has all 12 of Picture books covers in full color. This is a first edition, first printing of Denslow's wonderful stylized illustrations and writing. William Wallace Denslow (1856-1915), New Haven,Ct., raised in New York City. WW Denslow is now most remembered for his illustration of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, one of the books he collaborated on with Frank L. Baum. Denslow started selling his illustrations to magazines when still a teenager, he spent a short time at both the National Academy of Design and Cooper Institute (New York). Essentially self taught, his stylized graphic talents bought a new life to children's book illustration with his comic influenced style. Denslow's membership in the Salmagundi Club (1871, Art Club in Greenwich Village N.Y.), helped him in obtaining illustration and graphic work for magazines: Hearth and Home; St. Nicholas Magazine for Children, he also illustrated for the Daily Graphic, etc. In 1882 he settled in Philadelphia quickly becoming a well known member of the artist community, and a sought after commercial artist. He designed theatre posters, illustrated for newspapers, monthly periodicals, book plates, fashion, etc. Denslow was the only professional artist ever to be asked by Elbert Hubbard's to design for Roycroft Press. His collaboration with Frank L. Baum produced several other successful children's books before they had falling out. Denslow went on to illustrate his own children's books: Denslow's Mother Goose; Denslow's Night Before Christmas; Denslow's Picture Book Series, being the most popular. Despite his achievements and impact on the Golden Age of Book Illustration William Wallace Denslow died at 58 in relative obscurity. Green illustrated stiff cardboard. Mild rubbing of extremities. Stapled binding, rubbed spine. Few very pale finger smudges to margins, else, bright clean illustrations and text. Solidly bound/ 11 by 8 3/8 approx. In protective archival polyester wraps. A rare collectors item. First Edition