searching for a copy of an illustrated grimms fairy tales childrens
hardcover book sold in australia 1970's. Containing the stories the
golden bird and the water of life with about 6 others.  Cover was of a
black hourse and rider possibly a witch riding through a forest. 
Illustration on cover was simplistic, illustrations inside book were
detailed and lavish.  Unsure of exact title of book or author/
illustrator credits.

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Request for Question Clarification by robertskelton-ga on 05 Sep 2002 22:38 PDT

Do either of these resemble the cover?

http://www.goethe.de/in/d/grafiken/bilder/aschenputtel.jpg

http://www.alibris.com/images/booksellers/featured/grimms.gif

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Clarification of Question by kath1-ga on 06 Sep 2002 19:30 PDT

no luck with searched information so far

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 06 Sep 2002 21:08 PDT

Kath:
How certain are you that the book contains "The Golden Bird"? I have a
lead on a book that sounds very similar to what you've described.
However, while the book does have "The Water of Life," it doesn't have
"The Golden Bird."

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Clarification of Question by kath1-ga on 06 Sep 2002 23:19 PDT

Positive the book contained the golden bird, almost sure it contained
the water of life.  Illustrations were detailed and coloured, I recall
the illustrations of the golden bird itself, the golden cage it was
in, the golden horse that was also in the story, and the rider and the
princess on the horse carrying the golden bird in the cage.  I am
nearly sure that in addition to this on the final page of the book was
an illustration of a many headed green dragon which was being attacked
by a man who had severed a few of its heads.  Hope this helps  K

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 01 Oct 2002 05:03 PDT

Hi Kath,
After searching long and hard for this book, I'm not sure but I might
have found it for you. The only problem is, is that there is no image
available for the cover. But maybe these stories that are included in
the book and the illustrator will ring a bell?
"Includes such well-known titles as 'Rapunzel,' 'Snow White,' and
'Sleeping Beauty' as well as lesser known tales such as 'The Little
Farmer,' and 'The Golden Bird.' Illustrations are by Walter Crane.)"
The publishing date for this book is Sept '79. 
I haven't been able to find a  new edition of this book yet but there
is 1 copy of a used edition. Let me know if this is the one and your
decision and I'll get back to you.
Regards, 
rainbow~ga

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Clarification of Question by kath1-ga on 01 Oct 2002 21:39 PDT

hi rainbow-ga

without seeing the cover its hard to me to tell, but to the best of my
knowledge there were no really common stories, such as the ones you
mentioned in it, and unfortunately I have no idea of the illustrator,
if any images of the cover, or of the stories within become available
please let me know

regards
K

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 02 Oct 2002 02:26 PDT

Hi Kath,
I'll keep looking and in the meantime I have emailed some contacts who
may have some knowledge of this book and its whereabouts. I will let
you know of my progress.
Best regards,
rainbow

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 02 Oct 2002 13:37 PDT

Hi Kath,
I have received numerous replies from quite a few booksellers. After
sifting through them all, I am almost certain I have the title of the
book you are seeking. The book is available in many rare and used
bookstores. But there are no cover images available though. Would the
title ring a bell for you?
Regards,
rainbow

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 02 Oct 2002 15:41 PDT

Kath,
The title of your book is almost certainly "Six Companions Find Their
Fortune". When I brought this request forward to many dealers, with
the decription you offered, the majority agreed with my conclusion.
If you agree that this is the book you are seeking, I will answer your
question with details of the various conditions of this book and its
availablity through the contacts I have made.
rainbow

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Clarification of Question by kath1-ga on 02 Oct 2002 18:10 PDT

Rainbow

I can't confirm the book with that title, it may be but it doesn't
sound familiar.  If there are images fromt he stories or the cover
i'll recognise those

Regards  K

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 02 Oct 2002 21:51 PDT

Hi Kath,
I've sent out some more emails to the dealers who have the book in
their possession asking for description and if possible images of the
cover of the book. I'll let you know what I find.
Best regards,
rainbow

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 03 Oct 2002 15:18 PDT

Hi Kath,
It looks like I've hit a brick wall. The book that I and other dealers
believed to be the one you are looking for turns out to be a different
one. The problem here is that many Grimm Brothers books have various
versions which lead to various editions which lead to various book
covers. Quite a few dealers confirmed that they have books which
contain "The Golden Bird" and other tales, but none with the same
cover as the one you described. Because of the numerous versions, the
books they have could in fact be the same as the one you want but with
a different cover. One possible lead has informed me he will get back
to me on Tuesday after their holiday. Hopefully I will get some
positive feedback from him. Your question expires on Saturday, so
maybe you would like to repost it. Whatever your decision, I'll keep
up with the emails and search and let you know of any progress.
Best regards,
rainbow~

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 05 Oct 2002 01:04 PDT

Hi Kath,
Just want you to read something and tell me if it sounds at all
familiar. This is one of the many replies I've received:
"The book I have is red cloth 8vo (octavo) with an illustrated paste
down on
the front board that measures 2.5in x 3in. The front and back end
pages and
inside board papers are illustrated in full color--depicting a knight
on a
white stead and three men following and bearing on crossed lances the
remains of a slain drogon. The dragon is green with orange/red wings.
The knight is mounted on the white horse and is stopped in front of
the "king" or "Lord" and the "Lady" or "Queen" There is a little
yellow dog nipping at
the hoofs of the horse. The castle is up on a hill and shown in the
background. 
The book does have the story of "The Golden Bird".  
The illustrator is:  Fritz Kredel,
Translation by:  Mrs. EV Lucas, Lucy Crane and Marian Edwards.
I am not absolutely positive, but I believe there may have been a
front
plate at the title. If there was, this one is missing--and it is not
detectable that it may be missing. Many pictures with the tales are in
brown and white illustrations. There are 8 color plates in place.
There are no color plates of the golden bird".
I've just replied to this message for information on the contents of
the book.
I also have other replies that may be of help. And I've written to
some dealers in Australia hoping for some positive feedback. I'll keep
you up to date on my progress.
Best regards,
rainbow

This site has individual stories (although not the two you mentioned),
accompanied by illustrations by different artists. Maybe an image in
one of the stories will be familiar:
http://www.fln.vcu.edu//grimm/grimm_menu.html

Select "All Illustrations" in the drop-down box, for each story.

thanks for the search unfortunately no luck so far

You should look for a dealer in out-of-print children's books, who
will probably know just what you are talking about.

Hi rainbow-ga

i don't recall the title, but if you have it let and know and it might
remind me, I thought it was grimms fairy tales.  I'm nearly positive
the book was foolscap size and that the cover included a red sky(?) or
red sunset in addition to the black outline of the forest and
horse/rider.  I hope this helps

Hi rainbow

I can't confirm the book with that title. It may be, but doesn't sound
familiar,.  Is there any chance of images, i'll certainly be able to
recall those.

Hi rainbow

To the best of my knowledge the cover was only shiny cardboard, and
all the illustrations were colour.  There was definitely colour
illustrations of the golden bird, which im sure included a small
diagram of the bird flying with some golden apples in its beak above
the title of the story as it began.

Hi Kath,
I'm still working on finding that book for you!
I have a few more leads and want you to take a look at these titles of
stories in a book I received information about and see if they look
familiar:
THE FROG PRINCE
THE GOOSE GIRL
THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER
RAPUNZEL
THE SEVEN CROWS
LITTLE SNOW-WHITE
THE SHOES THAT WERE DANCED TO PIECES
HANSEL AND GRETHEL
THE GOLDEN GOOSE
THE VALIANT LITTLE TAILOR
THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK
"There are approx. 47 pages, they are not numbered. There is one color
illustration for each story. The illustrations do not have a names."

If this sounds like the book you want, you may want to repost your
question since it has expired. I have the cover of the book scanned
and will add it for you to see in my clarification. Let me know what
you decide.

Regards,
rainbow~

Hi Rainbow

Thankyou for continuing your search.  Unfortunately I don't recall any
of the more popular stories being found within the book I'm searching
for.  I'd love you to find success with the search, do you need to me
to repost the question to allow this, or is it ok for you to keep
searching until you find something and continue to contact me until we
have a victory?

Kind regards

Kath

Hi Kath,
Just to let you know I haven't given up yet! But all the dealers and
publishers I've written to so far have never seen this copy of the
book. I'll be writing to more dealers and I'll also keep searching. If
I find there is no positive feedback, I'll post the closest replies
I've received and you can decide what you want to do. We can keep
communicating here so keep checking for updates. You have gotten me so
intrigued with this book and its whereabouts that I feel I don't want
to call it quits! Hopefully, we'll find this book.
Best regards,
rainbow

Hi Kath,
Ok I've begun to receive some (hopefully positive) feedback on more
emails I've sent out and will start by posting this one. Can you tell
me if it sounds familiar?
"This book very possibly had an Australian edition. It was printed in
Italy, and the illustrator is Italian. There are 5 stories: Golden
Bird, Snow-White & 7 Dwarfs, Hansel & Gretel, Snow-White & Rose-Red,
and Fisherman&Wife. The cover is light green, with a medieval-looking
young woman in a purple dress comtemplating an empty bird cage - this
picture is repeated on the page facing the beginning of the Golden
Bird story.
The last page of the story has the maiden and the prince holding the
cage and  fleeing on the golden horse. The title page has a golden
bird flying with a golden apple (it looks more like a wren and a
cherry). The illustrations are all in color, and for the times and
technology, were lavish and detailed. Randall Jarrell, the translator,
was lionized in the US as a poet in the 60's
and 70's."
Let me know what you think. 
I'll post the ones that come closest to your description as I receive
them.
Best regards,
rainbow

Dear Rainbow,

To the best of my knowledge the book I'm searching for did not contain
any of the more familiar tales such as Hansel & Gretel etc.  I'm
certain about the cover description I gave earlier & my recollection
of the golden bird itself, which was above the beginning of the story,
was that of a bird more like a peacock, flying and holding the golden
apples in its beak.  In the following illustrations the bird whenin
the cage was large like a peacock also.  Hope this assists.

Regards

Katherine

Hi Kath,
Ok, I'm all out of resources; I think I have tried ever nook and
cranny on the internet. I am going to give you the closest replies to
the book you're looking for. I have received over a hundred email
responses by book dealers, book owners and bookstores throughout the
world. I'm sure many of them wanted me to find your book as much as
you do just so I would get off their case!  :)
The order I'm posting these replies is of no importance. These are all
actual quotes from the emails I received (leaving the unimportant bits
out). Here they are:

1- A tale by the Brothers Grimm, with 12 full page colour
illustrations by Lilo Fromm. Translated by Katya Sheppard.

2- The book we have is bound in burgundy cloth and it is decorated in
black and gilt, the illustrator was Walter Crane. The illustrations
are beautiful but they are not in color. It does have some of the
stories you mention; the sleeping beauty, the golden goose, the
wedding of mrs. fox, rumpelstiltskin, the goose girl, the golden bird,
the elves, etc.

3- I've quite a few picture book versions of Grimm's tales, either a
single tale or a handful in one volume, but I've had a look through
them and can't find a match.
However, one does bear closer examination. It is the right size, has
some of the pictures in it for the Golden Bird you describe (cage,
princess and rider on horse carrying the cage, etc.) However, other
things don't match up. It has five tales altogether (no Water of
Life), no dragon at the end, and cover doesn't match.
I'll keep your request on file and check it against any new Grimms
which pop up.

4- The only story I can find in this book that is anything like what
you have described is The Golden Goose, but it does not have the
illustration thatyou describe. The Water of Life is not in this book.
The book is 8+3/4 inches by 6 + 1/4 inches. The stories in the book
are as follows:
THE FROG PRINCE
THE GOOSE GIRL
THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER
RAPUNZEL
THE SEVEN CROWS
LITTLE SNOW-WHITE
THE SHOES THAT WERE DANCED TO PIECES
HANSEL AND GRETHEL
THE GOLDEN GOOSE
THE VALIANT LITTLE TAILOR
THE PRESENTS OF THE LITTLE FOLK
There are approx. 47 pages, they are not numbered. There is one colour
illustration for each story. The illustration do not have a names.

5- I don't think the book I have fits your description but I am
wondering if the book you seek is edited by Edith Brill and
illustrated by Jan Pienkowski. It is actually called "The Golden Bird"
and was published in 1970. I don't have any more publication details.
Hope this helps.

6- The stories included in the book I have are: The Golden Bird, The
Gallant Tailor, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, King Thrushbeard, Tom
Thumb, Rapunzel, The Raven, The Goosegirl, Cinderella, The Frog Prince
and Red Riding Hood.. There are 116 pages in this book. The copyright
is 1922 by George W. Jacobs & Company.
As for the cover of the book, it appears to be a picture of the story
"The Golden Bird". It is very ornate and detailed. It shows the golden
bird holding an apple in its beak and the bird is sitting in an apple
tree. The colors are gold and green. Then there is what looks to be an
elf on the ground shooting his arrow towards the golden bird. On the
inside front boards there is a pencil sketch of a princess with
peacocks surrounding her. Also this sketch is repeated on the back
boards.
I sure hope that this helps you.

7- The book has beautiful color illustrations throughout. The first
story is Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, 2 story Hansl and Gretel,
3rd story The Golden Bird, 4th story Snow-White and Rose-Red, 5th
story The Fisherman and His Wife. There is no Water of Life story.
There are no pictures of dragons.  The cover has a picture of the
Prince looking at the golden cage. Hope this helps.

8- This book very possibly had an Australian edition. It was printed
in Italy, and the illustrator is Italian. There are 5 stories: Golden
Bird, Snow-White & 7 Dwarfs, Hansel & Gretel, Snow-White & Rose-Red,
and Fisherman&Wife. The cover is light green, with a
medieval-looking young woman in a purple dress comtemplating an empty
bird cage - this picture is repeated on the page facing the beginning
of the Golden Bird story. The last page of the story has the maiden
and the prince holding the cage and  fleeing on the golden horse. The
title page has a golden bird flying with a golden apple (it looks more
like a wren and a cherry). The illus are all in color, and for the
times and technology, were lavish and detailed.

9- I was able to find books with the stories, Golden Bird and the
Water of Life, however they did not match the cover you described.
These books also contained more than 6 stories, they contained
approximately 25 stories.

10- This may well be the same story, however this is a "retold" and
"reillustrated" version which doesn't match exactly to your
description. There is a golden bird, a golden cage and a golden horse,
but no witch or dragon. The dust jacket blurb reads:  "... author Neil
Philip retells the classic Brothers Grimm story of the youngest son's
quest for the golden bird, the golden horse, and the princess from the
golden castle." The book contains only this one story. Hope this
helps.

11- We have the titles and more than 6 stories...Have the golden bird
but not in cage...We have some of your request and  not
others....Sorry not to be much help.

12- This book does contain the story The Golden Bird and 19  others
but not one called "the water of life". Although the illustrations are
by the famous Arthur Rackham , the final one is not of a dragon.
Sorry, don't think this is the book your are looking for.

-------------------------------------------------

Not as close as the others but want to mention them :)  

1- GOLDEN BIRD AND OTHER STORIES; Phila. (PA), George W. Jacobs &
Company (c.1922): 1st(?), small 8vo, blue cloth with color
illustration with title on to front board, 116pp, full-page color
illus. by Wuanita Smith and b&w illus. by Edward Shenton, cloth
moderately soiled and lightly edgeworn. Keep searching cuz this isn't
even close.
Best 'o Luck

2- Thank you for your interestng enquiry - however I am sure that the
edition I have is not the one which you seek. The book was published
in the 1940s and contains 54 tales with 16 coloured plates and more
b&w drawings. The specific pictures you describe are not included:
'The golden bird' has the colour plate 'The fox advises the young man'
and the b&w drawing
'The gardener's son shot an arrow at it'. 'The water of life' is
included but again the pictures do not match your descriptions. I do
produce a regular catalogue for buyers of children's books and, if you
like, I can include a 'Notes and queries' posting in the next one in
case any of my customers know the book you mean. The next catalogue
should be out in a few weeks.

3- This is perhaps not the book you are looking for, this book
contains 53 stories including golden bird and the water of life, but
this book bound with red cloth cover with small picture  of three men
with top hat, one men looks like a dwarf.  At the back end page, it
has a whole page picture with carrying green dragon by three men
leaded by a horse man, greeted by king and queen.

4- I have the book, Tales from the Brothers Grimm with illustrations
by Hester Sainsbury, published in London, 1930,one of 540 copies. It
is in like new condition, but the cover is with no illustration and I
think the 18 illustrations, one for each fable, including the Golden
Bird, are not as exciting as you describe. They are in beautiful
pochoir engravings
but are a prelude to each story, in full beautiful color, but rather
reserved, I think,
compared to your description.

5- The cover is of three men sitting in a circle of stones. There is a
story of golden bird and water of life. Don't think it is the book
your looking for.

6- My copy of Grimms' FairyTales has the 2 stories you mentioned, but
also, a LOT more (55 total, to be precise. The pictures you describe
are not in my book. Since these are Grimms' Fairy Tales, it may have
been the Australian edition that had those particular pictures in
them. I'm sorry I can't be of more help to you.

--------------------------------------------------------
 
When these dealers suggested I search somewhere in particular, I
would. But to no avail.
Many replies suggested that the book you want was probably reproduced
into another version and the cover you remember has changed
completely. I sincerely believe the version you are looking for is no
longer in print.
I apologize for the time lapse, but between not wanting to give up
searching and gathering these emails together, time just flew!
I'm sorry I couldn't find the exact book you are seeking, I sincerely
wish I could have found it. If I can do anything else for you, please
don't hesitate to ask.

Have a wonderful Christmas,
rainbow~
Google Answers Researcher