Folio Archives 122: Nursery Rhymes by Paula Rego – Special Limited Edition 1994

Nursery Rhymes by Paula Rego – Special Limited Edition 1994

A series of 9 regular Folio Society titles between 1990 and 1995, were published in quarter morocco leather with Ann Muir marbled paper boards, gilt page tops and they were signed by the artists. Each was limited to 100 numbered copies, and originally priced between £180 and £200. An extra colophon leaf, signed by the illustrator, was inserted. This is one of those books. (See FSD wiki here).

I was very fortunate to pay only A$99 (£48) for my copy recently, but the very few of these rare editions that come on the market usually seem to sell for close to their original price on the secondary market. Mine is number 67/100 and it is in fine condition. It did not appear to have been read when I opened it.

I now have two books in this series, the other being Brideshead Revisited, which is reviewed in the Folio Archives series here.

The marbling on front and back boards is spectacular, while the luscious maroon leather is stamped with a gilt title on the spine.

There are no surprises in the text, with most well-known English nursery rhymes being included, from the simple Baa-Baa Black Sheep to the more complex Who Killed Cock Robin? There is only one rhyme per page. Every recto page is illustrated, while the rhyme is printed on the opposite verso.

There are 31 full-page integrated drawings by Portuguese born (but British raised) Paula Rego, in a mixture of black and white, colour wash and full colour. The endleaves are full illustrations in black and white by Rego, with different illustrations at each end of the book. There is a four page introduction by Marina Warner, and the large format book has 72 pages. The mid-blue slipcase is 28.8x22.8cm. and has a title and author label on the front.

A gorgeously delightful book.















Front endpaper


Back endpaper


























An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.

Simply stunning! Congratulations on owning one of the few copies and for sharing with us.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful book. I had heard of it but I'd never seen it. I'm on the look out for a copy now.

Spectacular indeed. How come I never heard of these at the time. They must have been targeted at a very select bunch of members.

Breathtaking. The combination of Ann Muir marbling and that it is signed by Paula Rego.
Rego’s artwork fascinates me; the combination of narrative and sinister uneasiness.
I don’t know how much her work is known beyond the UK, but she is appreciated here and has had a number of exhibitions at the Tate etc over the years.

Edited to add that Folio also published an edition of Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up illustrated by Rego (1992), if you like her work.
And I realise that it is the same size as the two Beryl Cook illustrated The Loved One (1993) and Mr Norris changes Train (1990), although otherwise all are dissimilar. Were these an informal series, as I have acquired second hand?

>5 CarltonC:
A series of nine, with a link to the wiki list of all in the series in first paragraph of the review at >1 wcarter:.

>6 wcarter:. Apologies, I had not meant the Limited Editions, but looking at those titles now I appreciate that these created the informal series for non-limited editions.

Beautiful edition.

The marbling put me in mind of (in no particular order):

Stravinsky:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWOAu_T5DuI

Debussy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjHDpuCYq9Y

Knussen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H_fNIMy6IE

and a few bits of Messiaen's Turangalila but I'll let you chase that yourselves :-)

>8 Cat_of_Ulthar:
Great choices of music and thank you for introducing me to Knussen.

>8 Cat_of_Ulthar:
Interesting idea, comparing marbling to music. I can certainly see the firework illusion.
Other marbling by Anne Muir is often more like Handel's "Water Music".