The Rape of the Lock.

The first of Smithers' major Beardsley publications, 'embroidered' as the title-page puts it, with nine pictures - eight lacy masterpieces utilising the artist's new 'dotted lines' approach, and possibly the most severely rococo cover design he ever drew. It was published in May 1896; in July Beardsley reported with delight to Smithers that the Morning Post's list of 'royal wedding presents' (for, presumably, the wedding of Princess Maud of Wales) included a copy of a book described as 'The Rape of the Lock, by Mrs Beardsley, illustrated by herself'. 'You see,' Beardsley commented, 'how widespread is the doubt as to my sex'. (Brophy, Beardsley and his world, p. 90).

This copy has 'Leonard Smithers & Co. 1896' to the foot of spine, taken to indicate the second issue of five hundred copies that Smithers published that year, presumably to meet demand.

First Beardsley edition, ordinary issue, second state; [one of 500 copies]; 4to (257 x 188 mm.); frontispiece, 6 plates and 2 illustrations by Beardsley, plates on Japanese vellum with some browning, title printed in red & black, printer's woodcut device at end, occasional scattered foxing, some edges a little frayed; publisher's turquoise cloth with bevelled edges, blocked with gilt design by Beardsley to upper cover, lettered in gilt to spine, edges uncut, slight loss of colour down lower cover near joint, a little rubbed at extremities, but overall very good.xiii, 47pp

Lasner 105; Gallatin 1033-42; V&A 511, 513; Zatlin 976-85.