THE PLUMED SERPENT [QUETZALCOATL]

New York: Knopf, 1926. First Edition. Lawrence's novel of modern Mexico, a portrayal of a turbulent country with a focus on a wide-spread poitical movement among the peasantry to revive the cult of the ancient deities. Written mostly in Mexico at Oaxaca and on Lake Chapala, Lawrence completed the novel early in 1925, and at the time considered it his most important work. The American edition was published from new plates, presumably in smaller numbers than the British edition (3,000 copies). A scarce title in the lovely illustrated jacket; we have noted a single copy jacketed copy of the American edition in the trade in recent memory. Roberts A33. First Printing. Octavo; yellow cloth, with titling and decorations stamped black and red on spine and front panel; red topstain; 445pp, [2]. Subtle fading to extremities, with faint spotting to spine panel; Near Fine. In the rare dustjacket designed by Dorothy Brett, priced $3.00 at mid-spine; light soil and spotting, numerous small, and several large, chips to edges, including a large diagonal loss to upper right corner of front panel; with tears and splitting to edges and folds, and archival mends verso; Good only.