Step into the Victorian imagination with this antique volume of Eastern Tales, published in 1863 by James Challen & Son of Philadelphia. Credited to the “Author of The Branch and Other Poems,” this rare American imprint gathers a series of romantic and moralizing stories inspired by the exoticism of the East.
Inside are tales such as Abidah, Prince of Thibet, Suleiman of Baghdad, The Fool and the Doctor, The Gold Basin, and Julio Capados, the Man in the Moon. Written in the tradition of Arabian Nights, these narratives reflect the 19th-century Western fascination with “oriental” settings, blending fantasy, fable, and moral lessons.
This example bears old Mercantile Library stamps and a later handwritten provenance note from 1974, adding layers of history and character. Bound in 19th-century marbled boards with a reinforced cloth spine, the book shows expected age toning, water staining on preliminaries, and some foxing, but remains complete and structurally sound.
A wonderful addition for collectors of antique literature, orientalist storytelling, and Philadelphia imprints, or for anyone building a curated library of 19th-century books with history and charm.
