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#C-38 - "Swan Lake" by Mark Helprin and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg - Aerial Books, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1989 - First Edition - $10.00 Not the Swan Lake of ballet fame, but this book is none-the-less a work of art. Chris Van Allsburgs illustrations are of such beauty, that I was astounded they were done for a children's book! Hardbound in dark navy blue cloth, stamped in gold on the front cover and spine, there is also a paper paste-on illustration on the front cover. The tale involves a old man who is telling a magically biographical story to his granddaughter. There is an emperor of a kingdom that appears to me to be very much like Austria or Switzerland, with magical swans, and heroes and villains, and all manner of strange goings-on... and appears to be aimed at a child of about 9-12 in my estimation. There are 12 full color illustrations and decorations at the top and bottom of every text page! The condition is NearFine, with a slight bump to one corner, a water spot the size of a small thumbprint, and a hint of light mottling of the navy-blue cover. There is very faint scuffing at the bottom and left edges of the paste-on. Inside the binding is tight... just like new... and the pages are crisp, clean, tight, bright and complete... again, just like new!