TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION

First trade edition of the impressive publication of Poe with the fabulous illustrations by Harry Clarke. With 32 plates by Harry Clarke, comprised of 8 tipped-in colour plates and 24 plates in black and white, and with a profusion of Clarke's head and tail-pieces throughout. 4to, in a very handsome binding of full morocco, jet black just as the original cloth, the upper cover inlaid with the original large pictorial pastedown printed in black and gilt, the spine with raised bands creating six compartments, four with large central gilt tools and two gilt lettered and gilt framed, additional gilt at the head and tail. 412, (1) pp. A handsome and appealing copy of this impressive edition, the rich custom binding is in excellent condition, solid and very attractive, a few spots at the outer edge of a small number of leaves, a few leaves with a bit of run-over, the plates are all in fine condition as is the text.

Edizione: first of the edition and a scarce finely bound copy of this important illustrated book. the tudor issue with the plates in colour added to the edition. there are twenty-nine tales including "the pit and the pendulum", "the murders in the rue morgue", "the fall of the house of usher", and "the descent into the maelstrom." clarke's superb drawings evoke the dense spiritual qualities reflected within poe's exquisite and impassioned writing. a wonderful marriage of artist and writer.