"HIS STRONGEST ILLUSTRATIONS": BEARDSLEY'S KING ARTHUR

(BEARDSLEY, Aubrey) MALORY, Thomas. The Birth, Life and Acts of King Arthur, Of His Noble Knights of the Round Table. (New York: Dutton), 1927. Large quarto, original black cloth gilt, beveled boards, top edge gilt, uncut. $3200.

Limited third and best edition, American issue, of Beardsley's magnificently illustrated Morte D'Arthur, one of 1600 copies, with 20 superb full-page illustrations and hundreds of ornamental chapter headings and decorative frames by Beardsley. A beautiful copy.

Reflecting "the late 19th-century's darker, more decadent interpretation of the medieval world of King Arthur" (Fulton, 396), Beardsley's illustrations for Malory's immortal Morte D'Arthur (first published by Caxton in 1485) "brought him instant recognition and the artistic leadership of a decade often known as the 'Beardsley period'… The Malory drawings are his strongest illustrations" (The Artist and the Book 16). This edition contains all of the designs and ornaments omitted from the first edition of 1893-94, as well as introductory notes on Beardsley's illustrations and the publishing history of the work. American issue, with Dutton imprint on verso of title page. Without scarce original dust jacket. Lasner 22C. Bookplate.

Just a hint of rubbing to spine ends and corners; interior and cloth clean, gilt bright. A beautiful copy, very nearly fine.