SIR THOMAS MALORY
Illustrated by W. RUSSELL FLINT, R.W.S.
London: Philip Lee Warner, Publisher to the Medici Society Ltd., 1920.
FIRST TWO-VOLUME EDITION • SUMPTUOUS RED HALF-MOROCCO BINDINGS • GILT-DECORATED SPINES • TOP EDGES GILT • TWO VOLUMES
An exceptionally handsome presentation of one of the great masterpieces of medieval English literature, illustrated with the celebrated Arthurian watercolors of William Russell Flint (1880–1969) and preserved in two imposing volumes bound in rich red half morocco, with gilt-tooled raised-band spines, matching red cloth boards, and beautifully patterned endpapers.
Published in 1920 by Philip Lee Warner for the Medici Society, this is the first edition in the two-volume small-quarto format, following the celebrated Riccardi Press limited edition of 1910–1911.
The present set is particularly appealing for its elegant bindings, which transform this beautifully illustrated classic into a distinguished addition to any library of English literature, Arthurian legend, or fine illustrated books.
Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur, first printed by William Caxton in 1485, remains the foundational literary account of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristram, and the Knights of the Round Table.
Drawing together the great cycles of Arthurian romance, Malory created a sweeping narrative of chivalry, loyalty, enchantment, love, betrayal, and the tragic dissolution of the fellowship of Camelot.
The Medici Society's edition occupies an important place in the illustrated history of the work.
Originally published in four volumes by the Riccardi Press in 1910–1911, the celebrated Russell Flint interpretation was subsequently reissued in the present two-volume format in 1920, making the artist's magnificent illustrations available to a wider audience while retaining the substantial format and distinguished typography of the earlier production.
The edition includes an introductory bibliographical discussion by the distinguished scholar Alfred W. Pollard, together with Caxton's historic preface.
One of the great achievements of early twentieth-century British book illustration.
The Scottish-born artist William Russell Flint, later knighted for his contributions to British art, possessed an extraordinary gift for watercolor, historical atmosphere, and the depiction of richly romantic narratives.
His interpretations of the Arthurian legends are among his most celebrated book illustrations.
The complete 1920 two-volume edition calls for 36 full-page color plates, reproducing Flint's original watercolor paintings.
Among the subjects depicted are scenes of courtly ceremony, armored knights, desperate combat, noble ladies, and the tragic romances that lie at the heart of Malory's epic.
Flint's paintings combine an almost theatrical command of medieval costume and architectural detail with a delicate, atmospheric treatment of light and color.
The illustrations are particularly notable for their extraordinary visual storytelling, evoking the mysterious and romantic world of Arthurian legend.
The present set is bound in an unusually attractive and substantial pair of matching red half-morocco bindings.
The spines display five raised bands, creating six compartments, with gilt lettering, gilt compartment borders, ornamental gilt devices, and delicate decorative tooling.
The sides are covered in coordinating deep red cloth, with leather corners and fine gilt rules defining the transitions between cloth and morocco.
Binding features include:
Rich red half-morocco leather over red cloth boards
Five raised bands to each spine
Titles, illustrator's name, volume numbers, and decorative ornaments in gilt
Gilt-ruled spine compartments and binding divisions
Matching red morocco corners
Top edges gilt
Other edges untrimmed
Decorative marbled endpapers in pale blue, cream, and tan
The handsome uniform bindings give these substantial volumes an impressive appearance on the shelf, while the warmly toned leather and restrained gilt ornamentation complement the medieval character of the text.
No binder's signature has been identified.
Both volumes bear the neatly printed bookplate of Charles Owen Dennis, reading:
EX LIBRIS — CHARLES OWEN DENNIS
The bookplates are printed by Tiffany & Co., adding an attractive period element to the provenance of this finely bound set.
Author: Sir Thomas Malory
Title: Le Morte Darthur: The History of King Arthur and of His Noble Knights of the Round Table
Illustrator: William Russell Flint, R.W.S.
Publisher: Philip Lee Warner, Publisher to the Medici Society Ltd.
Place: London
Date: 1920
Edition: First edition in the two-volume small-crown-quarto format; reprinted from the earlier Riccardi Press edition
Format: Two volumes, complete as a set
Illustrations: 36 full-page color plates called for across both volumes
Binding: Matching red half morocco and red cloth, gilt-decorated raised-band spines, top edges gilt
Provenance: Charles Owen Dennis, printed bookplates by Tiffany & Co.
Very Good, with attractive, well-preserved leather bindings.
Both volumes present handsomely, with rich leather coloration, clear gilt lettering, and well-defined spine ornamentation.
The bindings show modest age-related rubbing and handling wear, with some light marking and uneven coloration to the red cloth boards. One rear board has a more noticeable dark scuff or surface mark, visible in the photographs.
The leather remains attractive, with minor wear to extremities and joints. The corners and raised bands retain their handsome appearance.
The gilt top edges show some age-related dulling and handling wear; the remaining page edges retain their original untrimmed appearance.
Internally, the pages show light, scattered age-toning and occasional minor foxing or spotting, especially toward the margins and preliminary leaves. The illustrated pages shown are clean and attractive, with strong color.
The patterned endpapers and printed bookplates are well preserved.
Please examine the extensive photographs, which form an important part of the condition description.
Few works of medieval English literature have inspired so many generations of artists, poets, scholars, and readers as Malory's Le Morte Darthur.
This impressive two-volume edition brings together one of the most influential works in the English literary tradition, one of the finest illustrators of the early twentieth century, and a handsome pair of traditional leather bindings.
A beautiful set for the collector of Arthurian literature, King Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory, William Russell Flint, illustrated classics, and fine leather-bound books.
Both volumes included.