The Talisman: A Tale of the Crusades

Philadelphia: David McKay Company. Very Good with No dust jacket as issued. 1927. First Edition Thus. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Original publisher's antique red cloth with gilt titles and gilt-ruled decorations on cover, including border comprised of crenellated gothic tower with architectural details and seven shield medallions, framing titles and central medallion; gilt lettering and medallion on spine, t.e.g. nd (cir. 1927). Illustrated with full-page color reproductions of twelve original drawings by Simon Harmon Vedder. Preface by the Hon. Mrs. Maxwell Scott of Abbotsford. "The Talisman" takes place at the end of the Third Crusade, mostly in the camp of the Crusaders in Palestine. Scheming and partisan politics, as well as the illness of King Richard the Lionheart, are placing the Crusade in danger. The main characters are the Scottish knight Kenneth, a fictional version of David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon, who returned from the third Crusade in 1190; Richard the Lionheart; Saladin; and Edith Plantagenet, a relative of Richard. It was first published in 1825 as the second of his "Tales of the Crusaders," the first being "The Betrothed." . Former owner's somewhat sad and enigmatic inscription in an elegant hand on ffep ("To Margaret Scott | from Margaret Scott | 17 July 1927"), otherwise unmarked; head of spine very lightly pulled, corners lightly bumped, front endpaper starting to split, else fine. VERY GOOD.. Color Illustrations. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. xxii, 389 pp .