The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch, 1942, Signed Custom Harcourt Binding

Binding Details:  Signed custom binding by the Harcourt Bindery, Charlestown, Massachusetts bound in three quarter morocco leather over complimentary cloth covered boards with raised bands to the spine, gold gilt titles, and gold gilt center motifs and ruling. There is gold gilt ruling to the boards and corners, hand-sewn silk endbands, marbled endpapers, and the top page edges are gold gilted. The Harcourt Bindery label appears on the bottom of the last free endpaper.

Book Details:  Originally published in 1855, this is the Heritage Press, New York edition published in 1942 that features numerous black-and-white illustrations by British painter and printmaker Stanley William Hayter. From the publisher: “First published in 1855, Bulfinch's" Mythology "has introduced generations of readers to the great myths of Greece and Rome, as well as time-honored legends of Norse mythology, medieval, and chivalric tales, Oriental fables, and more. Readers have long admired Bulfinch's versions for the skill with which he wove various versions of a tale into a coherent whole, the vigor of his storytelling, and his abundant cross-references to poetry and painting, demonstrating the relationship of literature and art. The myths and legends so vividly retold in this volume underlie much of the art, literature, and culture of Western civilization. As Bulfinch put it, "Without a knowledge of mythology, much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated."

Measures approximately 9.25” x 6.25” with 369 pages as well as an introduction by John T. Winterich, Table of Contents, Author’s Preface, Editor’s Preface, and Table of Names.

Condition Report: The binding is in FINE condition with a superficial rub to the top corner of the back board. Internally, the book is very clean with no signs of previous ownership.

A photograph of the binding appears in the photo section of the listing.