Specialist art publisher Taschen is to publish a reprint of East of the Sun, West of the Moon next month, a stunning-looking collection reviving the most ambitious publication project of Danish artist Kay Nielsen, one of the most famous children’s book illustrators of all time.

First published in 1914, East of the Sun and West of the Moon is considered a jewel of early 20th-century children’s literature and is highly sought-after by art and book collectors worldwide. An original signed copy of the book sold at auction in 2008 commanded the highest price ever paid for an illustrated children’s book.

This finely crafted book restores the stunning detail and artistry of Nielsen’s images to their original splendor. Featuring 46 illustrations – including many enlarged details from Nielsen’s rare original watercolors, the book is printed in five colors, and comes with a slipcase. Three accompanying essays, illustrated with dozens of rare and previously unseen artworks by Nielsen, explore the history of Norwegian folktales, Nielsen’s life and work, and how this masterpiece came to be.

TASCHEN editor Noel Daniel graduated from Princeton University and studied in Berlin on a Fulbright Scholarship. She earned a master’s degree in London and served as director of a photography art gallery before becoming a book editor. Her TASCHEN books to date include A Treasury of Wintertime Tales (2014), The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (2013), The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (2011), Magic 1400s–1950s (2009), and The Circus 1870s–1950s (2008).

Step into a world of star-crossed lovers, magical winds, mischievous giants and trolls, and some of the most exquisite illustrations in publishing history…

Kay Nielsen: East of the Sun and West of the Moon
Editor: Noel Daniel
Hardcover in slipcase, with ribbon bookmark, 9.1 x 11.3 in., 168 pages
ISBN 978-3-8365-3229-7
Edition: English

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek Magazine) and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War and “Dan Dare”. He’s the writer of "Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies" for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, downthetubes News, Other Worlds

Tags: downthetubes News, Fantasy Art, Fantasy Fiction, Kay Nielsen, Taschen