1898 Rare Book - Stories of the Days of King Arthur illustrated by Gustave Dore

Author: Charles Henry Hanson. Illustrated by Gustave Doré.
Title: Stories of the Days of King Arthur.
Publisher: London, T. Nelson and Sons, 1898.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7" x 5.5".
Pages: vi-271 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good binding, beautifully bound in full red prize presentation morocco leather, with the Blackburn School gilt crest on the front board. Gilt decorations on spine and board edges, five raised bands (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges marbled.
Content:  Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, previous owner’s school prize plate (dated 1899) affixed to the front pastedown - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with a frontispiece and seven dramatic full-page black-and-white engravings by the celebrated French artist Gustave Doré, including depictions of Arthurian legends such as Merlin, the Green Chapel, and the final scenes of Arthur’s reign.

Estimate: (USD 200 – 300).

The book: A striking and richly illustrated edition of Stories of the Days of King Arthur, told in prose by Charles Henry Hanson and brought vividly to life with wood engravings by Gustave Doré. This 1898 edition offers a narrative retelling of the major events and characters of Arthurian legend, including Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, Morgan Le Fay, and the Knights of the Round Table. The vivid illustrations and high-quality school prize binding make this an exceptional collector’s item for lovers of Arthurian literature and 19th-century illustration.

The author: Charles Henry Hanson (c.1846–c.1920) was an English writer and educator best known for adapting classical and legendary stories for younger readers. His works aimed to make epic and mythical narratives accessible while preserving their grandeur and moral weight.

The illustrator: Gustave Doré (1832–1883) was a renowned French illustrator, engraver, and artist, celebrated for his dramatic and intricate style. His illustrations for literary classics—such as The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, and Paradise Lost—are iconic. In this Arthurian volume, Doré’s engravings enhance the epic and mythic tone of the stories with his masterful use of shadow, scale, and emotional depth.