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First Edition Thus. Hard cover,12mo, in original green cloth, blocked in gold to both front and rear boards, decorated with Housman's acclaimed all-over design of intertwined, stylized peacock feathers in an Art Nouveau style. Title is within a ruled rectangular box at upper left, with what appear to be strapwork hinges of triple ruled lines reaching across the spine (in imitation of raised bands) to join with the symmetrically designed rear board. All edges gilt. [7], 63 [64, printer's colophon], [3]pp. With Housman-designed illustrated half title vignette, illustrated title page, a further 12 full page woodcut illustrations and numerous smaller cuts as stanza footers. He illustrates the animalistic goblin-men characters of Rossetti's story in wonderfully crisp, complexly carved woodblock prints of spiraling Art Nouveau line. **CONDITION: Very Good. Head and foot of spine with light wear; partial 16th inch loss of cloth at foot. Appears to have been slightly color retouched at head sometime in the past, as seen. Minor rubbing at front joint, about an inch, and two places at rear joint. Hinges all in order. Over-opened in a couple of spots. (p.6, 18). Spine a bit darkened. Front tissue guard may be missing; a replacement has been provided. Overall, internally clean and remaining reasonably bright. ALS enclosed, dated 1928, regarding the book's return from a borrower named Leslie, on stationery from 3 Whitehall Court, London. (This toney address hosted a number of British luminaries over the years, including authors Oscar Wilde, H.G. Wells, and the pre -war offices of the MI6 and National Liberal Club. Further investigation may prove interesting for the buyer.) **This is the most famous work of narrative verse by the British poet, CHRISTINA ROSSETTI (1830-1894), first published in the 1862 volume entitled "Goblin Market and Other Poems" (an edition famously designed and illustrated by her brother, the Pre-Raphaelite artist, Dante Gabriel Rossetti.) Originally framed as a tale for children along the lines of other contemporary Victorian semi-allegorical works, "Goblin Market" has now taken on a life of modern, sometimes controversial, interpretations; does it refer to adult themes such as eating disorders, lesbianism, or the general female victimization by men and prevailing standards of womanly decorum? More traditional views have seen it as a simpler allegory of the renunciation of carnal and worldly desires and excesses. The story of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, are tempted by the fruity offerings of the part-animal-part-man-goblins, (illustrated as rats, snails, wombats et al,) creatures who venture out at dusk laden with tempting trays of colorful, deliciousness. When Laura indulges in the fruit for the price of a lock of her golden hair, she becomes unwell, and begins to age and go gray. Her sister Lizzie tries to save her...Regardless of how one choses to read this work, however, it remains a classic of fine Victorian poetry, with lush, sensory language in a fresh, less restrained form, engaging both the ear and imagination. British ARTIST and cover designer LAURENCE HOUSMAN ((1865 -1959) was known latterly as primarily an author, playwright and social reformer. Housman began his art training, however, at the Lambeth School of Art and Royal College of Art in London. His prints adopt an Art Nouveau style which pays some homage perhaps to the work of Aubrey Beardsley or Jessie M. King. It has been noted that his artistic output only spanned about ten years, after which he focused solely on his writing. Other causes he supported included feminism, women's suffrage, gay rights and secular humanism. Watson 497.
Ref: WAUTH 9729
$800.00