Item #486 The Story of King Arthur and His Knights. Howard Pyle.
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

New York: Scribner's, 1903. Howard Pyle. First Edition. Hardcover. 1st edition. Rewritten by Pyle from Caxton’s translation of Malory’s original and illustrated by Pyle with 48 engravings. A contemporary signed presentation copy, inscribed in black ink, amplified with a small sketch of Guinevere, and dated “New Year’s Day, 1904.” Late 20th century full morocco, spine faded a shade else near fine. Presentation copies of this 1st edition are scarce; those with a drawing more so, and comparing our copy to an uninscribed one is to not grasp the difference between a bottle of Romanée–Conti and a handful of grapes. Near fine. Item #486

As an artist, Pyle was the epochal American who founded the Brandywine school. As an author, his 1st editions were spiritedly chased by collectors who were thought to be shrewd not so long ago. But the vogue for him waxes and wanes in rhythmic rotations, as it does for most authors, and though his Story of King Arthur is an agreeable read, still in print, and a standard of natural description, it isn’t Caxton’s archetype, and rampant ardor for it only reemerges in locust–like cycles tied to the sun, and the next solar maximum isn’t until 2024.

Price: $600.00

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