SIGNED LIMITED ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF LEW WALLACE'S FIRST NOVEL, THE FAIR GOD, SIGNED BY WALLACE AND ILLUSTRATOR ERIC PAPE

WALLACE, Lew. The Fair God. A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico… Illustrated by Eric Pape. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, 1899. Two volumes. Large octavo, original embossed decorative boards rebacked in brown morocco. $1100.

Signed limited "Author's Autograph Copy" of Wallace's first novel, a tale of Cortez's conquest of Mexico, number 213 of 250 signed copies, inscribed and signed by Wallace on the limitation page, "Very respectfully, Lew. Wallace, Nov. 7, 1898," with dozens of illustrations, vignettes and decorations by Eric Pape—including the embossed boards of the elaborate publisher's binding—additionally signed by Pape in pencil on the frontispiece of Volume I.

Inspired by Prescott's History of the Conquest of Mexico and his own experiences as a soldier during the Mexican War, Wallace, who would go on to become famous for Ben-Hur, chose Mexico as the subject for his first foray into writing. Even after being officially rebuked by the Mexican government for supporting liberal Mexicans such as Carvajal and Benito Juárez, Wallace nevertheless "pursued his romantic infatuation with Mexico, publishing his story of Cortez's conquest, The Fair God (1873). His first historical romance was well received and possibly had something to do with his appointment as governor of the Territory of New Mexico from 1878 to 1881" (ANB). First published 1873. Beneath Wallace's inscription on the limitation page, Lew Wallace's grandson, presumably in presenting this copy, has penned in red ink "Equally respectfully, William N. Wallace, July 14, 1972." William Noble Wallace (1924-2012) was "a sports reporter for The New York Times and one of the first to cover professional football beyond following the local team… His great-grandfather was Lew Wallace, the Civil War Union general who wrote Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, which was adapted into the Oscar-winning film with Charlton Heston" (New York Times, August 14, 2012).

Interior generally clean and fine; light wear and restoration to decorative boards. A very good signed copy.