Le Morte D'Arthur

London: J. M. Dent, 1894. First edition thus. Near Fine/Very Good. One of 1500 copies, complete in two volumes. Bound in full yellow cloth with elaborate gilt stamping to the front boards and spines. Retaining the very scarce original brown paper dust jackets. Books in Near Fine condition, some foxing to the cloth and the internal contents, but rarely seen when the cloth retains its natural color. Dust jackets both about Very Good, minor chipping to the spine ends and along the top of the rear panel to vol. 2. Vol. 2 also missing the lower half of the front flap. Interestingly, each book has an additional thin paper wrapper, between the printed jacket and the binding (as issued by the publisher). Unrestored 19th century dust jackets are uncommon.

Malory translated and compiled the legends of Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, Guinevere, Sir Gawain, and the Knights of the Round Table, using numerous French and English sources. His work was first published in 1485 by William Caxton, the first English printer. It proved immensely popular and became the basis for the countless retellings and adaptations throughout the next five centuries (with a few periods of silence, namely 1634 - 1816). We can think of no other collection of stories that have more fully captured the imagination and passion of the English people than the Arthurian legends.

"It is the only true English epic; its matter is 'the Matter of England'. The matchless style, the humour, the magnificence, the magic that takes away the breath, combine in a masterpiece of legendary narrative. Each century has produced its own version of the Arthurian tapestry, but Malory's will never be forgotten" (Printing and the Mind of Man 29, for the first edition). Near Fine in Very Good dust jacket.