The Noble Knight Paris & The Fair Vienne by [Medieval Text]; William Caxton (Original Translator); Dean, Mallette (Artist) - 1956

Kentfield, California: The Allen Press, 1956. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. Dean, Mallette. One of 130 copies, quarto size, [43] unnumbered leaves, with prospectus and original slipcase. "The text of "Paris & Vienne" is a romance of thirteenth century France, and was regarded as the most popular story of the middle ages. Although often copied in manuscript, and frequently printed in fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, there are few romances so rare as this one. From the original Catalane language, it was translated into Latin, French, Flemish, Italian and English. A noted seventeenth century critic stated that "it would be impossible to find a work more fitted to imbue the mind with correct taste and elegance of style, or to influence character by the wisdom of its reflections, or to forearm hearts against those assaults of fiery passion which blindly precipitate one into the abysses of misery. The work is truly admirable. The situations are so interesting and the dénouement is so happy, that their conception would reflect honor on the best writers of the most renowned ages." The only known copy of Caxton's printing (1485) is in the British Museum; the present edition is based on that copy" (n.b., from the prospectus: "Announcing a New Book..."). This publication by the inimitable Allen Press, with coloured relief-cut ornaments and illustrations by the well-known artist, printmaker, and publisher Mallette Dean. (Harold) Mallette Dean (1907-1975), an eminent printer and illustrator of the San Francisco Bay Area, was one of twenty-six artists commissioned to paint murals in San Francisco's Coit Tower; he illustrated books for the Grabhorn Press for fifteen years. The volume is filled with Dean's wondrous illustrations and ornaments which set the stage for the story, with figures in medieval dress flanking the pages on the right and a flowering vine on the left. ___DESCRIPTION: Quarter white parchment with gray lettering, gray-white French paper over boards, with small engravings printed vertically in blue where the paper joins the parchment, fore- and tail-edges uncut, title page printed in red with a hand-coloured ornament, 122 wood-engravings by Mallete Dean hand-coloured by Dorothy Allen; handset Romanee type, Val de Laga paper, quarto size (10 3/4" by 8 7/8"), [43] unnumbered leaves, limited edition of 130 copies, unnumbered. Housed in a slipcase covered in matching gray-white French paper; with the original prospectus slipped in, a single sheet folded once to four pages, the front mirrors the title page, the second page is blank, the third and fourth pages announce the book to be available on May 15, 1956, for the princely sum of $18.50 for prepaid orders and $20.00 subsequent to the publication date. ___CONDITION: A near fine copy, internally bright and complete, the covers are clean with straight, unrubbed corners, the text block is tight and straight, and the volume is free of prior owner markings; some age toning to the backstrip (which results in the lettering being difficult to read), else fine. The prospectus is near fine, clean with with several creases and minor edgewear; the slipcase near fine, strong and sturdy, but with some overall light soiling and edgewear, particularly around the opening. ___CITATION: The Allen Press Bibliography, no. 18; Hawk, no. 339. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard shipping charge does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___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.