1867 Rare Book - The Culprit Fay by J. Rodman Drake Illustrated by A. Lumley
Author: Joseph Rodman Drake. Illustrated by Arthur Lumley.
Title: The Culprit Fay. A Poem.
Publisher: New York: Carleton, Publisher, 1867. First illustrated edition by Arthur Lumley.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 6 inches.
Pages: 118 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original green cloth binding with elaborate gilt-stamped decorative elements, including a fairy scene within a circular frame on the front cover and intricate gilt detailing on the spine (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, gift note of a previous 1868 owner on the upper margin of title page - as shown, small bookbinder's ticket of Geo.W. Alexander, New York, at rear endpaper - as shown).
Illustrations: This edition is richly illustrated with one hundred engravings by Arthur Lumley, depicting fairyland imagery and whimsical scenes that enhance the poetic storytelling. The engravings are intricate and beautifully rendered, making this a visually captivating edition.
The book: The Culprit Fay is a beautifully composed fairy poem set in the Highlands of the Hudson River. Written in 1819, it tells the story of a fairy who, having fallen in love with a mortal, must undergo a series of trials to regain his standing in the fairy world. The poem is an exquisite example of early American romantic literature, blending nature, fantasy, and lyrical storytelling into a magical and enchanting work.
The author: Joseph Rodman Drake (1795–1820) was an American poet whose work, though limited in quantity due to his early death, has been celebrated for its imaginative richness and lyrical beauty. The Culprit Fay remains his most famous work and is considered a classic of American fairy poetry.
The illustrator: Arthur Lumley was a 19th-century American illustrator known for his detailed and expressive engravings. His illustrations for The Culprit Fay bring the poem’s ethereal and magical world to life, adding an enchanting visual dimension to Drake’s poetic masterpiece.