Translated from the French and Illustrated by Charles Ricketts.
Plaistow, Privately Printed, The Curwen Press, 1929
A volume of imaginary dialogues between the dead, including Oscar Wilde, Voltaire, St Augustine, Plato and Nietzsche. The book was written by Ricketts under his pseudonym of Jean Paul Raymond, a device Ricketts again brought to bear in his Recollections of Oscar Wilde (Nonesuch Press, 1932), in which although the setting is contrived the episodes and conversations therein were drawn from the diaries and letters that he had kept. John Russell Taylor has remarked on the mysterious quality of the later book-cover designs by Ricketts, suggesting the possibility of a private symbolism.
First edition, one of 150 copies only; large 8vo (268 x 175 mm.); 5 plates by Charles Ricketts, internally very good; original burgundy morocco, elaborately ruled & blocked in gilt to a design by Ricketts, with his monogram to the foot of upper & lower panel, a little rubbed at spine-ends, but really an exceptional copy, top edge gilt, others uncut.
First edition, one of 150 copies only; large 8vo (268 x 175 mm.); 5 plates by Charles Ricketts, internally very good; original burgundy morocco, elaborately ruled & blocked in gilt to a design by Ricketts, with his monogram to the foot of upper & lower panel, a little rubbed at spine-ends, but really an exceptional copy, top edge gilt, others uncut.
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