The Yellow Book; An Illustrated Quarterly
- Hardcover
- London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane (Vol's I and II), John Lane The Bodley Head (Vol's III - XIII), 1897
London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane (Vol's I and II), John Lane The Bodley Head (Vol's III - XIII), 1897. Hardcover. Near fine. Thirteen volumes (complete), octavo size, approx. 4150 pp. Called "the gay nineties" in America and "the naughty nineties" in Britain, the decade of the 1890s was, in many respects, one in which the Victorian morals and societal codes were loosening with many who, on both sides of the pond, "embraced more freedom, fun, and social permissiveness" (n.b., quote from Wiki).
Within the worlds of literature and art, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) were extremely influential, both with a talent for bringing eroticism into their art and making it - almost - socially acceptable. In addition to their joint collaboration on "Salome" (first published in 1892), they launched this periodical, "The Yellow Book", with its first issue being April, 1894. Beardsley was the first art editor, and while Wilde was not a contributor, his influence can be felt.
Ultimately it lasted for only thirteen issues, its demise coming about for almost the same reasons as its success. The public initially saw "The Yellow Book" as "something queer and rather alarming...and thus it almost immediately regarded it as symbolic of new movements..." However, after the trial and conviction of Oscar Wilde the publishers, who were from the outset less inclined towards these new ideals than the artists, combined with a reaction, now negative, from the public ("the [publisher's] premises were set upon by a mob who vandalised the building") its final issue was April, 1897 (n.b., quotes from Wiki).
___DESCRIPTION: All volumes bound in full bright yellow cloth, black illustrations and lettering on the fronts, black lettering and decorations on the spines, the table of contents reproduced on the back covers except the final issue which duplicated the design of the front, replete with reproductions of artwork (all in black and white, with a single exception); bindings octavo size (8 1/8" by 6 1/2"), pagination varies between 256 and 406; note that this set does not have the advertisements bound in at the rear.
___CONDITION: Overall near fine, the boards mostly clean (a few volumes with light spots), the corners mostly straight (a few slightly bumped), most without rubbing and a few with minimal rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges (we noted a few gutters just beginning to crack), the interiors clean and bright, and the set entirely free of prior owner markings; some light rubbing to the black ink on the bindings on most volumes, light toning to some of the endpapers, a few volumes with the boards very slightly bowed, and some of the spines lightly sunned (note that the spine of Vol. VI is significantly lighter in colour).
___POSTAGE: Please note that this set will require additional postage, please inquire for details. International customers, please also note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
Within the worlds of literature and art, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) were extremely influential, both with a talent for bringing eroticism into their art and making it - almost - socially acceptable. In addition to their joint collaboration on "Salome" (first published in 1892), they launched this periodical, "The Yellow Book", with its first issue being April, 1894. Beardsley was the first art editor, and while Wilde was not a contributor, his influence can be felt.
Ultimately it lasted for only thirteen issues, its demise coming about for almost the same reasons as its success. The public initially saw "The Yellow Book" as "something queer and rather alarming...and thus it almost immediately regarded it as symbolic of new movements..." However, after the trial and conviction of Oscar Wilde the publishers, who were from the outset less inclined towards these new ideals than the artists, combined with a reaction, now negative, from the public ("the [publisher's] premises were set upon by a mob who vandalised the building") its final issue was April, 1897 (n.b., quotes from Wiki).
___DESCRIPTION: All volumes bound in full bright yellow cloth, black illustrations and lettering on the fronts, black lettering and decorations on the spines, the table of contents reproduced on the back covers except the final issue which duplicated the design of the front, replete with reproductions of artwork (all in black and white, with a single exception); bindings octavo size (8 1/8" by 6 1/2"), pagination varies between 256 and 406; note that this set does not have the advertisements bound in at the rear.
___CONDITION: Overall near fine, the boards mostly clean (a few volumes with light spots), the corners mostly straight (a few slightly bumped), most without rubbing and a few with minimal rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges (we noted a few gutters just beginning to crack), the interiors clean and bright, and the set entirely free of prior owner markings; some light rubbing to the black ink on the bindings on most volumes, light toning to some of the endpapers, a few volumes with the boards very slightly bowed, and some of the spines lightly sunned (note that the spine of Vol. VI is significantly lighter in colour).
___POSTAGE: Please note that this set will require additional postage, please inquire for details. International customers, please also note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
Details
Title
The Yellow Book; An Illustrated Quarterly
Author
[Artists: Aubrey Beardsley, Joseph Pennell, Walter Sickert, Laurence Housman, John Singer Sargent, Patten Wilson, Ethel Reed, etc.]; [Authors: Henry James, Max Beerbohm, Arthur Symons, Edmund Gosse, H.G. Wells, W. B. Yates, Walter Crane, etc.]
Binding
Hardcover
Condition
Near Fine
Publisher
Elkin Mathews & John Lane (Vol's I and II), John Lane The Bodley Head (Vol's III - XIII): London
Date
1897