[Morte D’Arthur]. The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur of His Noble Knights of the Round Table Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures the Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte Darthur with the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of This World of Them All.

BEARDSLEY, Aubrey; Sir Thomas Malory; William Caxton; John Rhys; Aymer Vallance.

Item Number: 146762

London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1927.

Limited Beardsley illustrated edition of perhaps the best-known work of Arthurian literature in English. Quarto, original publisher’s cloth with gilt art-deco botanical design by Aubrey Beardsley, re-cased with careful repairs to the joints and hinges, top edge gilt, illustrated with twelve plates by Beardsley, numerous in-text designs, and head- and tail-pieces throughout. One of one thousand six hundred examples. In near fine condition with embossed stamps in blind to the top margins of some leaves, light toning to the edges, and an information slip adhered to the front free endpaper with tape. Accompanied by an etched plate for the limited edition of ‘Parsifal’ by Willy Pogany. An excellent example.

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was an English illustrator and author whose black ink drawings were influenced by Japanese woodcuts, and depicted the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. He was a leading figure in the aesthetic movement which also included Oscar Wilde and James McNeill Whistler. He is considered one of the important Modern Style figures for his significant contribution to the development of the Art Nouveau and poster styles. His very first commission was for J. M. Dent and Company, illustrating Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur.'