Tales of Grimm and Andersen

Title: Tales of Grimm and Andersen
Genre: Children's
Author: Jakob (1785-1863) and Wilheim Grimm (1786-1859), Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875); selected by Frederick Jacobi, Jr. (1891-1952); introduction by W. H. Auden (1907-1973)
Illustrator: "PG"
Publisher: Random House, New York, New York
Series: Modern Library Giant
Year: 1952
Pages: 746
Format: Hardcover, with dust jacket
Provenance: "R" written in pencil on inside back cover
From the Introduction: "The Grimm brothers were the first men to attempt to record folk tales exactly as they were told by the folks themselves without concessions to bourgeoise prudery or cultured literary canon, an example which, in the case of prudery, at least, has not been followed, I am sorry to say, by their translators."
Random Passage: "'What faculties lie hidden in me!' said the old Lamp, when it awoke. 'I could almost wish to be melted down! But, no! that must not be so me and brought me oil. I am as well off now as the whole Congress, in looking at which they also take pleasure.'"—from The Old Lamp by Hans Christian Andersen
Notes: Started in 1917, The Modern Library aimed to bring affordable, digest-sized hardback editions of classic literature to the burgeoning American masses. It later became a subsidiary of Random House. This particular, well-preserved copy of Tales of Grimm and Andersen appears to have never been cracked open.