Fine Books & Manuscripts

RACKHAM, Arthur (1867-1939), illustrator. –– POLLARD, Alfred W. The Romance of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. London: Macmillan and Co., 1917. Square 8vo. 16 mounted color plates with printed tissue guards, woodcut initials and woodcut illustrations in text. Modern half leather over marbled boards, raised bands, gilt filets and centerpieces in gilt, remainder gilt titled (trifle marginal foxing). FIRST AMERICAN RACKHAM TRADE EDITION (limited to 250 copies) of what James Hamilton in Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration, calls “another wartime book, commissioned, like the Allies' Fairy Book, to reflect - and cash in upon - the nations' mood of patriotism, and martial endeavor. In preparing for the commission, Rackham turned to his own copy of Beardsley's Morte D'Arthur and, following the pattern of the Beardsley version, drew square and rectangular chapter headings to be set at irregular intervals up and down the page.” (Hamilton, pp. 111–112). Latimore & Haskell, p. 47.