Le Morte D'Arthur, Illustrated by W. Russell Flint, 1923, Signed Asprey Bindings

Full Title:  Le Morte D’Arthur: The History of King Arthur and His Noble Knights of the Round Table

Binding Details:  Beautiful signed bindings by Asprey, London in full morocco leather featuring a spine treatment of five raised bands, gilt rules, and titling. There are gilt rules to the front and rear boards as well as the edges, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, and gold gilted page edges. The Asprey binders stamp appears in each volume on the bottom of the inside front cover in gold gilt.

Book Details:  Le Morte D’Arthur written by Thomas Malory in the fifteenth century and first printed by William Caxton in 1485, is widely considered the most famous version of all the Arthurian legends. The first Medici Society edition was published by the Riccardi Press in two volumes in 1911 and featured 36 colored plates from paintings by William Russell Flint. This is the second edition published in 1923. Sir William Russell Flint’s illustrative interpretation of Malory's work is masterful and depicts seminal moments and characters within the Arthurian tale including: Uther Pendragon; Morgan le Fay; Merlin; Merlin; King Arthur; Guinevere; Sir Lancelot; the Lady of the Lake; Sir Uwain; Sir Pelleas; Sir Gareth (Beaumains); Tristram; La Beale Isoud; King Meliodas; Tramtrist; Segwarides; King Mark; Sir Bors; Sir Percivale; and Galahad.

Each volume measures 8.875” x 6.25 and contains a detailed index and list of illustrations.

Condition Report:  The bindings are in FINE condition. Internally, both volumes are very clean with no bookplates or other signs of previous ownership. There are 5 pages in Volume 2 that have a minor bent corner on the top right paper edge. Overall, these are wonderful full leather signed Asprey bindings that house one of the great illustrated classics.

Photographs of the bindings, endpapers, a two stock illustrations from the books appear in the photo section of the listing.