Malory, Thomas, Sir

The Birth, Life and Acts of King Arthur, of His Noble Knights of the Round Table ... London: J.M. Dent, 1893–1894

3 volumes, 4to (9 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 245 x 195 mm, untrimmed). Publisher's device designed by Beardsley printed in red, half-titles, 2 etched frontispieces, 18 plates including fronstispiece in vol. 2 (5 double-page), 3 headpieces, 22 borders, numerous initials printed in red and black inks, numerous vignettes and infill ornaments, colophon in vol. 3; usual offsetting from plates, borders, and occasionally vignettes, offsetting on pp. 306–307 in vol. 2 from frontispiece, probably indicative that the plate was previously misbound. Full black morocco panelled gilt, gilt emblem on front cover after plate opposite p. 334 on vol. 2, gilt emblem on lower cover based on plate after p. 880 in vol. 3, spines panelled and lettered gilt, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. Together with: Reproductions of Eleven Designs Omitted from the First Edition of Le Morte Darthur. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1927. 4to (9 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 245 x 195 mm). Half-title, headpiece and publisher's device on title-page, 11 plates, 2 samples of designs for the original wrappers (one printed on glossy paper). Copy 225 of a total edition of 300. Uniformly bound with Le Morte Darthur.

Le Morte Darthur: College of St. Joseph on the Rio Grande — University of Albuquerque (stamps on p. 371 in vol. 2)

The Artist and the Book 16; Gallatin nos. 283–641

3 volumes, 4to (9 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 245 x 195 mm, untrimmed). Publisher's device designed by Beardsley printed in red, half-titles, 2 etched frontispieces, 18 plates including fronstipiece in vol. 2 (5 double-page), 3 headpieces, 22 borders, numerous initials printed in red and black inks, numerous vignettes and infill ornaments, colophon in vol. 3; usual offsetting from plates, borders, and occasionally vignettes, offsetting on pp. 306–307 in vol. 2 from frontispiece, probably indicative that the plate was previously misbound. Full black morocco panelled gilt, gilt emblem on front cover after plate opposite p. 334 on vol. 2, gilt emblem on lower cover based on plate after p. 880 in vol. 3, spines panelled and lettered gilt, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. Together with: Reproductions of Eleven Designs Omitted from the First Edition of Le Morte Darthur. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1927. 4to (9 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 245 x 195 mm). Half-title, headpiece and publisher's device on title-page, 11 plates, 2 samples of designs for the original wrappers (one printed on glossy paper). Copy 225 of a total edition of 300. Uniformly bound with Le Morte Darthur.
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First edition, "superior issue," copy 198 of 300 printed on laid holland. Published when Beardsley was only 21 years old, "the Morte d'Arthur brought him instant recognition and the artistic leadership of a decade often known as the 'Beardsley period' ... the Malory drawings are his strongest illustrations" (The Artist and the Book 16).