THE ROMANCE OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE

292 x 222 mm. (11 1/2 x 8 3/4"). xxiv, [iv], 517, [1] pp.Text abridged from Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" by Alfred Pollard. Original white kid stamped in gilt, top edge gilt, others trimmed on the rough (upper hinge expertly strengthened). In a new felt-lined slipcase. WITH 16 MOUNTED COLOR PLATES with lettered tissue guards and 70 drawings in black & white BY ARTHUR RACKHAM. Latimore & Haskell, p. 47. ◆Leather with a hint of soiling and very minor wear (corners slightly rubbed, a couple--perhaps naturally occurring--abrasions on the back cover), otherwise an especially fine copy. This is a lovely copy of the deluxe American edition on Large Paper of Arthur Rackham's take on the Arthurian legends. While Rackham did illustrations for a great many books, Houfe observes that he concentrated "particularly [on] those of a mystical, magic, or legendary background," like the present work. Rackham (1867-1939) studied art at Lambeth School, where the work of his fellow student Charles Ricketts influenced his development. Houfe tells us that soon after Rackham joined the staff of "The Westminster Budget" in 1892, he "established himself as one of the foremost Edwardian illustrators and was triumphant in the early 1900s when color printing first enabled him to use subtle tints and muted tones to represent age and timelessness." Being bound in white leather, the present item is very difficult to find as clean as it appears here. No. 180 OF 250 COPIES OF THE AMERICAN LARGE PAPER EDITION.…