Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in Rhyme

London: Nisbet & Co, 1920. First thus. Very Good +. First edition featuring Thomas Mackenzie's illustrations. One of 250 copies signed by the illustrator. A Very Good+ copy. Quarto, leaves measuring 330 x 255 mm. Complete with all twelve mounted color plates (including frontispiece) and captioned tissue guards. Publisher's white cloth elaborately stamped in gilt. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Binding somewhat dustsoiled. Darkening to spine. Some toning to endpapers. Some dustsoiling to first few leaves and to tissue guards.

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in Rhyme is a reimagining of one of the most famous tales from the Arabian Nights, here presented with beautiful illustrations by Thomas Mackenzie. "Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, Mackenzie [1887-1944] studied at the Bradford College of Art and then at the Slade. When he finished his studies, he was commissioned by the publisher James Nisbet to illustrate in watercolour an edition of Arthur and His Knights [1920]. Most of his illustrative work shows the influence of Beardsley, Harry Clarke and colour plate illustrators like Kay Nielsen. The Crock of Gold [1926], for example, is illustrated with twelve colour plates and black and white decorative headings and tailpieces. He was also an etcher and engraver and contributed to the Sketch and other journals" (Horne). Mackenzie's Aladdin is a lavish, dreamy interpretation that sets the tale in imperial China. Very Good +.