Flowers of Evil: In Pattern and Prose

Large Paper Edition, designed by Lewis F. White, privately printed in a Limited Edition of 1499 copies, this being no.681, and apparently signed by Egan on the Limitation page. Liberally illustrated by Egan’s in his Art Deco, erotic manner, much in the vein of Aubrey Beardsley. The book was translated by his wife Catherine Bower Alcock, for whom, he also illustrated a number of other works. Measures 11 x 9 ins. Original patterned green faux leather with circular device to upper board, lettering at spine rather faded, light bumping to corner tips, a few spots of soiling to lower board. Preserved in clear, plastic protective sleeve. Orig. yellow endpapers. No old inscriptions. Included are two letters from Bereford EGAN to Adrian Woodhouse refuting the authenticity of the signature in the limitation page. The first letter, dated 21st July 1978, states "The signature to the SYLVAN PRESS copy of Beaudelaire’s FLEURS DU MAL, which you showed me last evening, is not mine. It looks to me as though some-body has attempted, not very successfully, to imitate my manner of signing drawings in the 30’s and 40’s. I should like it on record, here and now, that I have never signed a single copy of the Sylvan Press edition and that at no time have I used the style of signature in question on any BOOK, DOCUMENT, or LETTER", signed by Egan in black ink in his bold, flamboyant hand. The second letter, from his address in Elm Park Mansions, Park Walk, Chelsea, London SW10, gives his unequivocal view of the Sylvan Press edition, "What a lamentable production it is! I would rather sign my death warrant than that infernal thing".…