The Byrth, Lyf, and Actes of Kyng Arthur; of His Noble Knights of the Rounde Table, Theyr Merveyllous Enquests & Adventures .

Malory, Sir Thomas

Published by Longman, Hurst, London, 1817

About this Item

Two large 8vo volumes. (4),lxiii,(3),xxxix,(1)383,(1);(4)495,(1)pp. Printed from Caxton's edition of 1485. With an Introduction and Notes by Robert Southey, the Poet Laureate of England. First edition with Southey's notes. Each volume with a large woodcut on the title page showing a knight and a dragon. Engraved gothic and figural initials. Bound to style in half navy blue morocco. Spines in six compartments with raised bands; deep blue leather lettering pieces, gilt. Marbled paper boards and endpapers. Text blocks lightly foxed else this is a very good set in a fine binding. This is the ninth printing of Malory, after Caxton (1485), De Worde (1498 & 1529), Copland (1557), East (ca. 1575), Stansby (1634) and two 12mo. editions in 1816. This was the first modern text of Malory which attempted to recapture the text as it was first published by Caxton. All contemporary advertisements indicate that this edition consisted only of 250 copies with 50 copies on large paper, though there is some suggestion from notes in the publisher's books that as many as 1000 copies may have been printed. This is the regular edition, still impressive at 10 inches, and a scarce and important printing. Seller Inventory # 16857

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Byrth, Lyf, and Actes of Kyng Arthur; of...

Publisher: Longman, Hurst, London

Publication Date: 1817

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near fine

Edition: 1st Edition