"The Bartered Bride by Frederick Smetana. Adapted by Robert Lawrence. Illustrated by Howard Arnold. Publishers: Grosset & Dunlap, New York. Copyright 1943 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc. Designed and Produced by Artists and Writers Guild, Inc."

A wonderful depiction of this classic ballet by Smetana, an ideal introduction to it for any child going to see the Ballet.

In 1940, Robert Lawrence published a series of books for Random House. They followed exactly the same format as this book here, even the same size. I am selling two more on ebay - Lohengrin and the Three-Cornered Hat (please see my other items). Clearly the Metropolitan Opera was much taken with the whole concept, and published this small volume in 1943.

It is a beautifully produced children's book, with illustrated endpapers, short musical quotes, and illustrations that capture the spirit of the Ballet superbly. The illustrations are by Howard Arnold, almost certainly Howard Weston Arnold who died in 1976. He was a member of the Writers and Artists Guild.

Quite scarce, particularly in this country (UK).

Size: the covers measure approx. 25cms x 19cms. Unpaginated.

Condition: Dust Wrapper good, in a protective cover. Illustrated covers beneath the D/J good. Endpapers good. Gift inscription on the pre-title page, and another loose, inserted.  Text clean. A good copy. Please study the photographs.

Postage: £2.50 within the UK. £11.00 to Europe, £16.00 to USA etc. 

I have other antique Books, Maps, Prints etc. in my ebay shop - please see my other items.