Encyclopeadia Of Things That Never Were

Fantasy Children’s Books Science Fiction

Encyclopaedia Of Things That Never Were teams Michael Page’s lyrical text with Robert Ingpen’s lush paintings to map the lands, gods, gnomes, witches and legendary creatures that live only in our collective imagination. This 1997 hardcover picture book is a spell-sure companion for fantasy fans, folklore lovers and anyone who never outgrew fairy tales.

Every page-turn reveals a new corner of myth—from Atlantis to Avalon—rendered in the kind of detail that invites lingering over coffee table or classroom. The hefty 240-page volume doubles as reference and art object, its vintage 90s production giving it the gravitas modern reprints can’t match.

This copy arrives in very good shape: crisp, unmarked pages, tight binding, no dog-ears or tears, only faint foxing on the front endpaper. Smoke-free, shelf-loved but clearly treasured, it’s ready to become the centerpiece of a fantasy library or an unforgettable gift for a young-adult reader venturing beyond Tolkien.

With signed copies scarce, an illustrated, well-preserved first edition like this is the next best thing—an instant heirloom for devotees of mythology, magic and the places that never were.