The Ingoldsby Legends, or Mirth and Marvels

London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1949. Leather. Near Fine. 5.5" by 7.5". Arthur Rackham. Illustrated in colour by Arthur Rackham, and in a signed full calf Bayntun-Riviere binding, this is a beautiful example of this anthology of myths and legends. A beautiful edition of this anthology of myths and legends, in a full calf signed Bayntun-Riviere binding, and featuring the colour illustrations of renowned artist Arthur Rackham.Illustrated with numerous vignette illustrations, a colour frontispiece and eleven further full colour plates, all the work of leading figure of Golden Age of British book illustration,  Arthur Rackham. Collated, complete.This is a collection of whimsical legends, myths, and ghost stories written supposedly by Thomas Ingoldsby of Tappington Manor, actually the pen-name of clergyman Richard Harris Barham. The legends were first printed in 1837 as a regular series in magazine 'Bentley's Miscellany', and due to their popularity were compiled and published in book form. Although based on real legends and mythology, they are deliberately humorous parodies of medieval folklore and poetry. From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty of the Edwardian period. Impeccably connected, Pleydell-Bouverie was also the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, and rumoured to be a lover of King Edward VIII. A sparkling figure of fashionable society, her friends included Nancy Mitford, Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, and Fred Astaire. This work is from the sale of Pleydell-Bouverie"s library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. She purchased the home in 1940, redesigning the interior and amassing an impressive library, featuring many examples of her own bookbinding. In a full calf signed binding, with gilt detailing. Externally, lovely. Rubbing to front joint, with board holding firm. Binder's stamp to verso of front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Near Fine