[MALORY, SIR THOMAS]. 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. The Text as Written by Sir Thomas Malory and Imprinted by William Caxton at Westminster the Year MCCCCLXXXV [1485] and now Spelled in Modern Style, Embellished With Many Original Designs by Aubrey Beardsley. London: Folio Society, 2003.
LIMITED EDITION NO.692. Leather-bound, hardcover in clamshell box, thick quarto (30 x 23 x 6.5 cm.), pp. xxxi, [1], 538, [1]. English text, edited by John Rhys. Bound in publisher's original full black Nigerian goatskin, the spine and boards intricately gilt with the iconic Beardsley water-lily designs, all page edges gilt, in-text decorations and numerous plates done in black and white by Aubrey Beardsley. With a pamphlet in sewn grey wrappers laid in a pocket in the clamshell box - the pamphlet contains Edwards' accompanying essay, titled: "Thomas Malory, the Morte Darthur and Aubrey Beardsley. An Essay by Anthony S.G. Edwards". Condition: FINE. An immaculate copy.
Notes: A facsimile of the third J.M. Dent edition. First published by William Caxton in 1485, the much-later J.M. Dent edition aimed to preserve much of the sensibility of Caxton's publication. A beautiful production by the Folio Society. 1,000 copies were produced for sale, this is copy number 692 as stated on the limitation page. Malory's King Arthur is a cornerstone work in Arthurian mythology and in literary folklore.
