Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, [1935], 1935 Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. First American edition, first printing. Publisher's red cloth, lettered in gilt, an illustration stamped in gilt to the front board, red topstain, and pictorial black and white endpapers; in its original pictorial dust jacket, with Rackham's illustrations in black, white, and orange, lettered in black and white. Fine book, with just a touch of soiling to fore edge of text block; near fine unclipped dust jacket, with some toning to spine, shallow chipping to head of spine, and a hint of staining to foot of spine. Overall, a handsome copy. Tales of Mystery and Imagination is a collection of 25 of Poe's short stories. Ranging in themes from the mysterious and fantastical to the macabre and eerie, these stories include many of Poe's best-known works. Specifically, this volume contains "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Mask of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "Eleonora," among others. Additionally, this volume boasts 29 illustrations by Arthur Rackham, comprising 12 color plates and 17 black and white illustrations. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was a prolific British artist and illustrator, best known for his deluxe editions of popular children's books. Artistically inclined since childhood, Rackham started out illustrating for newspapers, but it was not until he began drawing for children's literature that he received critical acclaim. In response to his burgeoning fame, Rackham's publisher, William Heinemann, began producing deluxe and trade editions of his illustrated works, the first being Rip Van Winkle in 1905. Deluxe editions were produced in a limited edition of numbered copies (ranging in quantity from 250 - 2,020), bound in vellum bindings, printed on handmade paper, and signed by the illustrator. The trade editions were published concurrently in simple bindings, on thinner paper, and with fewer color plates. This publication strategy benefited both publisher and artist; Rackham produced about one book per year and would have an annual gallery exhibition showing his original artwork for his latest book. . 1st Edition. Hard Cover. Fine. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur.