The High History of the Holy Graal
London: J. M. Dent & Co., 1903.
First trade edition. xvii, [i], 379, [1] pp, illustrated with full page plates and ornamental devices. Bound in publisher's pale blue highly decorative cloth stamped in black and gilt; top edge gilt. Very Good+ with toning and light fading to spine, Slight rubbing to extremities with a few spots of soiling to the cloth. Bookplates removed at front pastedown and front free endpaper, moderate offsetting at endsheets. A beautiful production designed by Scottish illustrator and Arts and Crafts Movement designer, Jessie M. King (1875-1949). A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art and member of the venerable "Glasgow Girls," King went on to teach Book Decoration and Design at the school and received commissions from the Berlin publisher, Globus Verlag, to design book covers and endpapers. Known for her distinctive style of line drawing, her works evoke an ethereal, almost mystical quality, a perfect addition to Sebastian Evans' lyrical translation of this medieval myth. In 1905, King collaborated with the famed department store Liberty & Co., creating jewelry and fabric designs for their wildly popular Cymric line. This work is often cited as her highest achievement, both technically and creatively.
Price: $2,500