1924 First Illustrated Edition by N. C. Wyeth - Legends of Charlemagne
Author: Thomas Bulfinch. Illustrated by N. C. Wyeth.
Title: Legends of Charlemagne.
Publisher: New York, Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, 1924. First illustrated edition by Newell Convers Wyeth.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5" x 7".
Pages: vii-273 pages
Binding: Attractive and near fine publisher’s original red cloth binding, with gilt titles to spine and large pictorial onlay to the upper cover featuring Wyeth’s dramatic artwork of a warrior battling a dragon (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Upper ege gilt.
Content: Very good, near fine content (bright, tight and clean- as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated with 8 striking color plates and richly decorative illustrated endpapers by N. C. Wyeth. The full-color plates include dramatic depictions of Orlando, Rogero, Ogier, and other heroic figures from the Carolingian cycle. Wyeth’s illustrations vividly capture the medieval atmosphere of Bulfinch’s retellings, filled with bold color and heroic energy. Plates are all present and in excellent condition.
Estimate: (USD 200– 350).
The Book: First published in 1863 as part of Bulfinch’s trilogy (The Age of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, and Legends of Charlemagne), this 1924 edition is celebrated for its magnificent illustrations by Newell Convers Wyeth (1882–1945), one of America’s greatest illustrators. The volume retells the Carolingian romances—epic tales of Orlando (Roland), Rinaldo, Rogero, and the great battles of Charlemagne’s paladins—reimagined for a modern audience in Bulfinch’s accessible prose. This Cosmopolitan edition remains one of the most visually stunning interpretations of the medieval legends.
The Author: Thomas Bulfinch (1796–1867) was an American writer best known for his works of popularized mythology and medieval romance. His aim was to make classical and medieval stories accessible to the general public, and his trilogy has remained in print for over a century, influencing how generations encountered myth and legend.
The Illustrator: N. C. Wyeth (1882–1945), a student of Howard Pyle, was one of the preeminent American illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration. His dynamic use of color, atmosphere, and heroic composition made his illustrated classics—such as Treasure Island and The Legends of Charlemagne—immensely popular and enduring. Wyeth’s work in this volume exemplifies his ability to bring mythic grandeur and medieval romance vividly to life.