“AWAKE, AEOLIAN LYRE, AWAKE”

PALGRAVE, Francis. Palgrave's Golden Treasury. Illustrated in Colour and Line by Robert Anning Bell. London and New York: J.M. Dent and E.P. Dutton, 1907. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter brown morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. $450.

Lovely illustrated edition of Palgrave’s compilation of “the best songs and lyrics in the English language,” with 25 color plates and line-cut head- and tail-pieces by R.A. Bell, handsomely bound.

Critic and poet Franics Palgrave conceived of the Golden Treasury during his annual holidays with Tennyson. First published in 1861, it "obtained an immediate and decisive success" (DNB). "Still a delight" (An English Library, 113). Illustrator Robert Anning Bell "carried on the decorative ideas of Walter Crane and had a share in the development of Art Nouveau" (Hodnett, 195). This is the first edition with Bell's illustrations.

Light foxing to preliminaries, only mild toning to spine. A handsome copy in near-fine condition.