1917 First Edition - King Arthur and the Round Table illustrated by Rackham

Author: Abridged by Alfred W. Pollard from Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Title: The Romance of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table.
Publisher: London, Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1917. First Edition illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8.5 x 7 inches.
Pages: xxiv-517 pages + publisher's catalog.
Binding: Attractive and very good publisher’s original dark blue cloth binding with elaborate gilt-stamped vignette and titles to upper board and spine. Decorated spine with Rackham’s signature lion motif (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with 7 black and white plates and 16 colour plates by Arthur Rackham. 

Estimate: (USD 400–600).

The book: This is the 1917 first trade edition of The Romance of King Arthur, illustrated by Arthur Rackham—an essential entry in the canon of golden age illustration. Rackham’s richly imagined visuals elevate this abridgement of Malory’s classic by Alfred W. Pollard, one of the leading bibliographers of his time. The book is steeped in both medievalism and Edwardian mysticism, pairing mythic grandeur with Rackham’s trademark shadowy beauty. From the drawing of Excalibur to the final battle, this edition captures the magic, sorrow, and chivalry of Arthurian legend like few others.

The author: Sir Thomas Malory (c. 1415–1471) is credited with compiling and authoring Le Morte d’Arthur, the seminal chronicle of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. His work unified diverse legends into a single prose narrative that defined Arthurian literature for centuries. Alfred W. Pollard (1859–1944), a noted Shakespearean scholar and bibliographer, abridged and edited this accessible version for younger readers and general audiences.

The illustrator: Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was one of the most celebrated illustrators of the Edwardian era. Known for his distinctive ink-line technique and hauntingly beautiful watercolors, Rackham brought a dark, magical tone to classic tales. His work on King Arthur ranks among his finest—brimming with mist-shrouded forests, noble knights, and ethereal enchantresses. Each illustration is a portal into the mythic imagination that continues to inspire readers and artists alike.