Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$577.47 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Published in London in 1816 in Two Volumes, this is a nice early Printing of Malory's Morte D'Arthur, his classic history of the legends of King Arthur, Merlin, and The Knights of the Round Table, bound in old leather bindings with later leather spines, internally illustrated with extra engraved title pages and frontispieces, books are small pocket formats measuring 5.25 inches by 3 inches approx., 468pp & 488pp. the bindings have been repaired in the past with new leather spines, and retaining the worn leather boards, corners are worn with loss to leather, internally fitted with new endpapers which has been adequately done with slightly inappropriate paper, foxing to opening and closing few pages else contents to both volumes in very good general condition.
Seller: Andrew Cox PBFA, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Price: US$1604.08 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: London, R. Wilks, 1816. First Edition. First Impression. Hardback. A very good copy. Three volumes, complete. An important entry in the Arthurian canon. I guess it's technically the eighth edition given the six editions between Caxton's 1485 issue and the 1634 edition published by Jacob Bloome. Then boom, like a stagecoach two centuries later, two turn up at once (actually three if you include Southey's of 1817). The Walker and Edwards edition of 1816 seems to have been published prior to this Wilks edition, though the text seems to have been prepared in 1815 given the preface. Of the three, it appears the Wilks issue sold the poorest, perhaps given the editing of all the fruity language. The text is based on the 1634 edition, and the book includes a folding plate replicating an illustration from that edition and a copy of the title page. From the library of S.A.S. Metheny. This copy includes a note from writer George Lillie Craik about the various editions, including the other 1816 edition and Southey's 1817 issue (later backing on the note). Presumably later cloth, though still fairly old, fairly amateurish covering but presentable enough. The labels have faded though. Rubbing to the lower edges. One volume has pretty much split at the lower hinge. Internally excellent. [10720, Hyraxia Books].
Seller: Hyraxia Books. ABA, ILAB, Hutton Cranswick, United Kingdom
Price: US$1924.90 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Complete 2 Volume set. Very Scarce 7th Edition, 1816, in Original Paper Covered Boards. Printed Title and Publisher's Details to fronts, Titles & Vol. Nos to spines and Publisher's List of "Walker's British Classics (With King Arthur, 2 Vols, listed last) on the back. Each Volume has an engraved Frontis Plate (Vol I "How King Arthur gave his Sword Excaliber to the Lady of the Lake", and Vol II "The Vision of Sir Percivale"); and an Illustrated Title Page, followed by Half Title Pages and a Printed Title Page. Illiustrations by C. Warren and T. Unwins. 5 3/4" Tall. Vol I has 468 Pages and Vol II has 488. Some wear and rubbing to covers with some chips to paper on spines (see photos). Some very light foxing to frontispieces and illustrated title pages. Some "Contents" pages missing from vol I (pages Xvii - xxiv). Main Text, Pefaces, Prologue etc. complete. Text pages in very nice, clear condition. Please ask if you would like any more pictures or information. Size: 24mo - over 5 - 5¾" tall
Seller: Bay Books, Penzance, United Kingdom
Price: US$2245.71 + shipping
Description: First modern edition of Malory, the seventh overall. The year 1816 represented a turning point for Malory's stories: after a gap of nearly two centuries two editions appeared almost simultaneously, the present edition widely thought to hold priority. Malory's Morte Darthur was first printed by Caxton in 1485, followed by editions in 1498, 1529, 1557, 1585, and 1634. The two competing editions (the present edition edited by Alexander Chalmers, and the Wilks edition edited by Joseph Haslewood) were both produced in the same small format. While there is occasional dispute as to which has priority, the Wilks edition contained a preface attacking the text of one, from which it can be inferred that this is the first of the two. Moreover, this edition has the benefit of being unexpurgated, unlike Wilks's, which made some alteration for the sake of "the fair sex". These two rival editions attest to a renewed fascination with England's medieval and fantastical heritage during the Romantic era, not unconnected with the changes and upheavals effected by the Industrial Revolution. 2 volumes, duodecimo (120 x 68 mm). Contemporary tree calf, rebacked with original spines laid down, red and green calf spine labels lettered in gilt, flat spines with gilt decorated compartments formed by gilt rules, Greek key frame with floral details in gilt to covers, marbled edges and endpapers. Engraved frontispieces and engraved vignette half-titles. Bookplate of A. T. Loyd on front pastedowns, ownership inscriptions reading "L H B to Annie Loyd to Arthur T Loyd" on first blank of vol. I. Neat restoration to corners of vol. I, edges gently rubbed, short split to head of vol. II front joint, book blocks remaining firm and square, occasional foxing to text; a very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$2566.53 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A very good copy of the rare 2 volume 1816 edition of Malory's work. This copy has the 2 volumes bound in one in contemporary full calf, which has had a professional reback preserving the original spine. The work was first printed in 1485 by Caxton, with editions in 1498, 1529, 1557 and 1634. 2 editions were published in 1816 of which this is said to be the first. The binding, with gilt compartments and titles to spine, has some scuffing and wear to board edges and corners. There is small hole in the leather near the spine on the back board. The page edges are marbled with matching marbling to endpapers. Contents: initial blank; frontispiece; decorative title; letterpress title (with small stamped E to top); preliminary remarks, preface, prologue and contents pp v-xvi; text vol I pp 1-468; frontispiece; decorative title; letterpress title Vol II; contents i-xvi; text 1-488; final blank. The contents are in very good clean condition. The endpaper joints have been professional reinforced - presumably when it was rebacked. The paper to the frontispiece and decorative titles is lightly toned; there is a little freckling towards the end of Vol II; and a small stain at the corner tip of p 271 and p273 has attached the 2 pages at the tip.
Seller: ecbooks, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom
Price: US$2875.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Two volumes. Engraved frontispieces and dual title pages, one engraved in each volume and one typeset. The engraved titles and frontispieces have offset to each other and are lightly stained else the text blocks are clean. Recent artist binding by Þ (signed on inner rear covers) in full maroon morocco. Spine titles gilt. Marbled endpapers. On Volume one in a recess is a representation of the Sword in the stone done in puckered colored leathers and carved wood. On the upper board of Volume II is a representation of the Sword being returned to the lake, caught by its Lady. The bindings are in fine condition, and are protected by the binder's maroon cloth dustwrapper, gilt titles on spines. With the signature of James Ranken Fergusson, 2nd Baronet of Spitalhaugh and also a prolific author. His armorial bookplates were retrieved from the original bindings and inserted into these. The first edition of Malory's Morte d'Arthur was printed by Caxton in 1485. The Caxton edition was followed by editions in 1498, 1529, 1557 and 1634. No further editions were printed until two competing editions were issued in 1816, of which this is reputedly the first. No editions earlier than the 1634 are obtainable, and a copy of the 1634 edition only rarely comes on the market. This 1816 edition is the first practically obtainable edition of the Morte d'Arthur. .
Seller: Thorn Books, ABAA, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.