Willy

1926 · réf. 177550 — London: George G. Harrap & Co. 1926. A handsomely produced publication a reissue of the 1910 deluxe edition with a new elaborate binding featuring intricate onlays and text reproduced in Pogany's manuscript-style lettering. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was among the artist's most ambitious exercises in total book design drawing consciously on the tradition of medieval illuminated manuscripts. As Richard Dalby observes "Willy Pogány was Dulac's most successful European contemporary during the highest peak of the Golden Age of book illustration. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was his most ornate and impressive production with hand-scripted text full-page black and white drawings and colour plates tipped-in on grey matte paper. This combination of illustration and calligraphic text by the artist was rarely repeated" p. 87. Quarto. Title page printed in colour 20 tipped-in halftone colour plates in-text illustrations in black white and green all by Willy Pogany. Original grey crushed morocco spine lettered in gilt compartments ruled and elaborately decorated in gilt with ship and dragon motifs front cover lettered and blind-tooled in gilt with blue dots to borders onlay centrepiece of a ship within gilt framing marbled endpapers gilt top edge other edges untrimmed. Ownership inscriptions of "Derek Whitting Law" dated 30 November 1932 and later inscriptions of "Richenda D. Buxton" and "R. D. Blaken" to front free endpaper. Spine toned scratches on rear cover front board slightly bowed. A very good copy. Richard Dalby The Golden Age of Children's Book Illustration 1991. unknown