"The Sirens Three" by Walter Crane - Macmillan, London - 1886 first UK edition - 25cmx18cm - condition: very good, original decorated binding with some minor wear and rubbing to edges, name to ffep, corner of ffep cut, all Crane illustrations present. This poem was orinally published in serial form in The English Illustrated Magazine: April - September 1885, a was a monthly periodical in which Crane published several poems. He also designed various covers for it. Together 40 pages of illustrations and decorative borders. The poem (144 verses), written by Crane himself, has an overtly socialist message and speaks of the Earth's rebirth as it emerges 'renascent from the sea of crystal air'. He was always concerned that the text should be harmonized and integrated completely with the illustration, which in turn must fill the whole frame of the page (Dalby). Walter Crane (1845 - 1915) was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children s book creator of his generation. Crane wrote and illustrated three books of poetry: 'Queen Summer' (1891), 'Renascence' (1891), and 'The Sirens Three' (1886).