"ONE OF THE GREATEST OF AMERICAN ILLUSTRATED BOOKS": FIRST EDITION OF THE KNAVE OF HEARTS, ILLUSTRATED BY MAXFIELD PARRISH

(PARRISH, Maxfield) SAUNDERS, Louise. The Knave of Hearts. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. Folio, original black cloth, mounted cover illustration, pictorial endpapers. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and slipcase. $3200.

First edition of "one of the greatest of American illustrated books" (Porter, 84), the last and most lavish children's book illustrated by Maxfield Parrish, with mounted cover design, pictorial endpapers, 14 full-page color plates, and nine in-text color illustrations.

By 1900, Maxfield Parrish had become "recognized as one of America's most successful artists, achieving national popularity for his distinctively elegant style, detailed backgrounds and glowing colors" (Dalby, 42). He agreed to illustrate his friend Saunders' play "on account of the bully opportunity it gives for a very good time making the pictures. Imagination could run riot, bound down by no period, just good fun and all sorts of things" (Yount, 86-88). Without very scarce original glassine or box. Yount, 86-91. Silvey, 507.

Interior clean and fine. Two small tape residue marks and two thin scratches on front cover. An exceptionally good copy.