On offer is a very scarce variant of the highly regarded 1st Ronald Balfour illustrated edition edition of this work, published in 1920. It is bound in flexible boards with integral dustwrapper featuring a bold, striking black and grey zig-zag (chevron) geometric pattern, with a green paper label on the front cover. This geometric paper pattern was highly popular among progressive European book artists and private presses around 1918–1921. It points to a scarce, publisher-issued temporary wrapper or a highly localized alternate binding choice used by Constable right at the dawn of the 1920s Art Deco movement. The standard copies of this 1st 1920 edition were bound in hardcover and there was also a limited signed edition of 100 copies. I have been unable to locate another copy in the binding of this copy on offer. The book has all the required bibliographical points. It contains 38 glorious tipped in plates, 6 of which are in vibrant colour and 32 in black and white with the clear influence of Aubrey Beardsley. They are tipped on to heavy stock beige paper. There are also numerous line drawings throughout.
The book has light wear but is in very good condition. The spine is inevitably cracked in view of the heavy paper leaves and the fragility of the paper spine, but is still holding. Internally the book is very clean and unmarked with an ex-libris on the front free endpaper.
Ronald Egerton Balfour (1896–1941) or professionally as Ronald Balfour was a British Illustrator and costume designer, best remembered for being the husband of Deirdre Hart-Davis and his Beardsleyesque depiction of the well known Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam published in 1920. Of possible interest is that the ex-libris on the ffep. belonged to one John David Hart who might have been a member of his wife Deirdre's distinguished Hart-Davis family?
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: Small 4to.
