Early British fantasy anthology edited by John Carnell; cover by Philip Mendoza

Step into the dawn of modern fantasy with this scarce British anthology, edited by the pioneering John Carnell, later renowned as the editor of New Worlds, the magazine that first published Terry Pratchett.

This rare volume offers five original stories, including contributions by H.S.W. Chibbett, W.P. Cockcroft, and Alan Devereux. It opens with a thoughtful foreword in which Carnell introduces readers to the very concept of “fantasy fiction,” positioning the collection as an important early statement on the genre.

Adding to its appeal is the striking cover design by Philip Mendoza. Mendoza is best remembered today for his whimsical posters of anthropomorphic mice, but in the 1940s and ’50s, he also created covers for publishers Pendulum and Scion Ltd., making this anthology a fine example of his early graphic work.

It includes the following stories:

H.S.W. Chibbett, Jinn and Jitters

W.P. Cockcroft, You can be a ghost! 

H.S.W. Chibbett, Bottled spirit 

Alan Devereux, McGinty's imp 

H.S.W. Chibbett, See?

A rare opportunity to own a piece of fantasy history: an anthology that not only introduced new stories but also helped define the genre itself.