Pogany, Wille Hiawatha

Hiawatha  Willi Pogany   1914

Very rare concertina-style book illustrated by Willie Pogany: HIAWATHA Willie Pogany Children
First Edition c 1914
George G Harrap & Company Ltd

Good condition, all folding parts work well.
Owners neat inscription
16 pages
Minor marks

Poem is written in attractive script at the bottom of each plate with black border.
Detailed, pen and ink Art nouveau style pictures coloured in the muted browns, greys, oranges and blues of the period with occasional splashes of red, by Hungarian illustrator, Willie Pogany (1882-1955).

Pictorial cover with Pogany illustration of Hiawatha in full Indian traditional dress holding bow and arrow, 2 rabbits to the left, same image front and back, Red and black titles.
Colours bright but with scuffing and paper corner loss at back.

Content: Henry Longfellow’s epic poem, written in 1855, here adapted for children. Native Indian ‘Hiawatha’ grows up learning to live in the wild, in harmony with nature, catching animals for food. Eventually he journeys to the kingdom of the Mudjekeewis tribe who are not friendly. Having fought with them and won the battle he goes back into the forest and shoots a roebuck with his bow and arrow. He lays it at the feet of a beautiful Indian squaw, ‘Laughing Water’, and wins her heart. The couple, now married, journey back across the lake with all the birds singing and the rabbits and squirrels come out to welcome them home.

Scarce copy, First edition, early Willie Pogany, unusual.