AT A WINDOW OF THE PALACE THERE WAS A CAGE CONTAINING AN EVIL LOOKING BIRD; THE ADVENTURES OF HATIM TAI. An original illustration for 'The Adventures of Hatim Tai' along with a signed first edition of the book.

An original painting executed in purple, red and green gouache on board with exceptionally crisp and elegant lines. Design instruction and pencilled notes in the hand of the artist to the margins around the painting. The painted image measures 14.5 x 23 cm, the board 26 x 39 cm. The board has been taped to a folded piece of paper which acts as a window mount with two small strips of gummed tape. The illustration itself is bright and in fine condition, the surrounding board is toned with a few finger marks and some dustiness and bumping to the extremities. Together with a first edition of the book, signed by the author Dorothy Esnor. Original navy cloth with gilt titles to the spine and a gilt illustration to the upper board, in dustwrapper. Illustrated throughout in colour by Pauline Baynes. A very good or better copy, the binding firm, the contents, with faint offsetting at the endpapers and a little light spotting to the closed text block edge and infrequently internally, are otherwise clean. Complete with the lightly rubbed dustwrapper that has a few short closed tears at the edges. Not price-clipped (10/6 on the front flap).

Produced for Dorothy Ensor's adaptation for children of Duncan Forbes's translation of the Persian tales of Hatim Tai, Pauline Baynes's illustration shows the hero standing in the garden of an elaborate palace looking up at an ominous bird which is about to put a malevolent enchantment upon him. The painting is reproduced facing page 84 of the printed first edition. Though best known for illustrating the work of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, Baynes was also prolific outside of these collaborations and brought that same touch of fantasy, precision and fluidity to anything she set her hand to, as is perfectly exemplified here. Baynes spent a happy early childhood in India (the loss of which she never forgot), where the story of Hatim Tai is popular and has been made into countless films. Her personal appreciation for the artistic styles and landscapes of South Asia is apparent in the geometric lines and patterns and swirling botanical motifs in her Hatim Tai illustrations, clearly inspired by Indian miniature paintings, whilst retaining her own distinctive style. The book is inscribed on the flyleaf "From / Dorothy Ensor".