“AS PERENNIALLY FASCINATING AS A FAIRY TALE”: SPLENDID ILLUSTRATED FOLIO LIMITED EDITION OF MARY STUART, ONE OF ONLY 500 COPIES

(MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS) SKELTON, John. Mary Stuart. London, Paris, Edinburgh: Goupil & Co., 1898. Folio (10 by 13 inches), early 20th-century three-quarter crimson crushed morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. $1250.

Limited second edition, one of 500 unnumbered copies, with beautiful hand-colored frontispiece portrait and 41 photogravure plates, handsomely bound by Ramage of London.

The life of the doomed Mary Queen of Scots, from her royal birth at Linlithgow Palace in 1542 to her execution at Elizabeth's order in 1587. Author Sir John Skelton "wrote on subjects of heated controversy both in the past and present, and, with a chivalry which was part of his nature, often took what was at the time the unpopular side; but throughout his historical work he displayed something of the spirit of the advocate" (DNB). Preceded by the 1893 first edition.

Interior generally fresh with light scattered marginal foxing, bright gilt-stamped boards. A handsome about-fine copy.