The Birth, Life and Acts of King Arthur, of the Noble Knights of the Round Table, Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures, the Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte Darthur with the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of This World of Them All
Le Morte Darthur The Birth, Life and Acts of King Arthur, of the Noble Knights of the Round Table, Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures, the Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte Darthur with the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of This World of Them All
Dent, 1893.
First edition illustrated by Beardsley. Two volumes. 4to. One of 1,500 sets of the "ordinary issue". Publisher's light yellow cloth, spines lettered in gilt, elaborately decorated in gilt floral designs by Beardsley to upper cover and spine. Top edges gilt, all others untrimmed. Burgundy silk page markers. Ownership inscription to the front free endpaper. Two mounted photogravure frontispieces and eighteen full page wood engravings (including five double-page), numerous text illustrations, and approximately 350 designs for chapter headings and borders, all by Aubrey Beardsley. A fine set, with remarkable retention of the original yellow colouring to the cloth, particularly to the second volume. Unusually clean cloth and bright gilt, with just some mottling to the rear board of volume one. Very bright and crisp internally, with multiple uncut pages.
Always an avid reader, Beardsley frequented London's antiquarian book shops, where he forged a friendship with bookshop owner, Frederick Evans. Evans admired Aubrey's work and introduced him to a fellow customer, publisher J.M. Dent. Dent was planning a beautifully illustrated version of Malory's Morte D'Arthur, along the lines of some of Morris's Kelmscott Press books, but using a less expensive printing process. Loath to pay the elevated fee William Morris would charge for this commission, Dent was persuaded to employ Aubrey Beardsley. To help secure this commission Beardsley drew The Achieving of the Sangreal. The images drawn for this volume remain the artist's most striking work and have not been equalled by any of his many disciples.
Beardsley's illustrations are dynamic and innovative whilst remaining sympathetic to the original style of later medieval manuscripts and printed books. Drawing upon iconic marginalia and serpentine floral motifs, Beardsley's illustrations, borders, and illuminated letters transform this version of Le Morte Darthur into a fin de siecle response to the medieval Book of Hours.
Stock ID: 47166
£3,000.00
