For someone whose contribution to literature is almost impossible to overstate, we know remarkably little about Sir Thomas Malory. As one of the most celebrated compilations of Arthurian legend, Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, first published in 1485 (after its author's death) by William Caxton, occupies a unique place in the minds of those fascinated by story-telling, myth, and folklore. It is easy to find contemporary reprints of this masterpiece; it is still a core part of many history and literature classes. However, finding older copies of Le Morte D'Arthur is extraordinarily difficult.
Of the original 1485 edition, only two copies still exist-both of which are housed as part of library collections. Following this, the book remained in print until the English Civil War, at which point it fell out of print until 1816. The 1816 reprint of Le Morte D'Arthur (Walker and Edwards: London, 1816) is valued up to $4,500. Another notable reprint is the 1893 edition produced by J.M. Dent of London, with illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley. Beardsley, who would die only five years later aged 25, created striking Art Nouveau illustrations for the book which seamlessly bridge the gap between Malory's early modern English and the highly modern worldview of the late 19th century. First editions of J.M. Dent's 1893 Le Morte D'Arthur generally begin around $1,500 but can be valued up to around $15,000, depending on the quality of the paper (some books of that edition were printed on hand-made Dutch paper).
Malory, Thomas. The Most Ancient and Famous History of the Renowned Prince Arthur King of Britaine. William Stansby, for Jacob Bloome, London (1634). Wherein is declared his Life and Death, with all his glorious Battailes against the Saxons, Saracens and Pagans, which (for the honour of his Country) he most worthily Ach
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte D'Arthur. R. Wilks, London (1816). The Most Ancient and Famous History of the Renowned Prince Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; 3 volumes.
Malory, Thomas. The History of the Renowned Prince Arthur, King of Britain. Walker and Edwards, London (1816). Two volumes; With His Life and Death, and all His Glorious Battles, Likewise, the Noble Acts and Heroic Deeds of His Valiant Knights of the Round Table; Each volume has an engraved frontispiece and dual title pages, one engraved in each volume and one typeset; The engraved pages are by Charles Warren after Thomas Uwins
Malory, Thomas. The Byrth, Lyf, and Actes Of Kyng Arthur. Longman, Hurst, London (1817). With an introduction and notes by Robert Southey; of His Noble Knights of the Rounde Table, Theyr Merveyllous Enquests and Adventures; 2 volumes; 250 copies with 50 copies on large paper, but as many as 1000 copies may have been printed.
Malory, Thomas. The History of King Arthur. John Russell Smith, London (1865). and of the Knights of the Round Table; Three volumes bound in full light brown leather by F. Bedford.
Malory, Thomas. Morte Darthur. David Nutt, London (1889). The Original Edition of William Caxton; Now Reprinted and Edited with an Introduction and Glossary by Oskar Sommer, PhD; With an Essay on Malory's Prose Style By Andrew Lang, M.A; 3 volumes.
Malory, Sir Thomas. Morte d'Arthur. J. M. Dent, London (1893). The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur of His Noble Knights of the Round Table, Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures, The Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte Darthur With the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of This World of Them All; 2 Volumes; With 2 mounted photogravure frontispieces on India paper (in vols. 1 and 3), and 18 full-page wood engravings (including five double-page), numerous text illustrations, and approximately 350 designs for chapter headings and borders, all by Aubrey Beardsley; Total 1800 copies including 1500 ordinary paper copies.
Malory, Sir Thomas. The Birth, Life, and Acts of King Arthur. J.M. Dent and Co., London (1893). of His Noble Knights of the Round Table, Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures, The Achieving of the San Greal, and in the End, Le Morte Darthur with the Dolorous Death and Departing out of this World of Them All; The Text was Written by Sir Thomas Malory and Imprinted by William Caxton at Westminster the Year MCCCCLXXXV, and Now Spelled in Modern Style; With an Introduction by Professor Rhys, and Embellished with many Original Designs by Aubrey Beardsley; Beardsley contributed the front cover design, 16 full-page and four double-page illustrations, 43 borders, 288 chapter headings, initial letters, and ornaments; 2 volumes; 1500 copies.
Malory, Sir Thomas. MORTE DARTHUR. J. M. Dent, London (1894). With an Introduction by Professor Rhys; 2 photogravure frontispieces 18 plates (5 double page) by Beardsley and with more than 330 other border decorations chapter heads ornaments illustrations decorations and initials by Beardsley throughout the text; 300 copies printed; 3 volumes.
Malory, Sir Thomas. MORTE DARTHUR. J.M. DENT AND CO, LONDON (1897). COMPLETE 4 VOLUME SET
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte D'Arthur. Macmillan, London (1903). Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur And of His Noble Knights of The Round Table; 2 volumes.
Malory, Sir Thomas. MORTE DARTHUR. Macmillan and Co, London (1908). Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and of his Noble Knights of the Round Table; 2 volumes.
Malory, Sir Thomas. Morte D'Arthur. J.M. Dent, London (1909). The Birth, Life, and Acts of King Arthur, of His Noble Knights of the Round Table, Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures, The Achieving of the San Grael, and in the End, Le Morte Darturn with the Dolourous DEath and Departing out of this World of Them All; EDITION LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES FOR THE U.K. AND 500 COPIES US; With an Introduction by Professor Rhys and designs by Aubrey Beardsley
Malory, Thomas. The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur. William Caxton, Westminster (1909). of His Noble Knights of the Round Table Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures
Malory, Sir Thomas. The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur. Dent, London (1909). of His Noble Knights of the Round Table, Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures; the text as written by Sir Thomas Malory and Imprinted by William Caxton; Total 1500 copies printed; Illustrated with 20 full-page plates; illustrations and decorations throughout by Aubrey Beardsley
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. Medici Press, London (1910). the Book of King Arthur and his Noble Knights of the Round Table; 4 Volumes; With 48 tipped in hand-coloured plates by Russell Flint; 500 copies; The lettering of the title pages engraved after the design by M. Engal; Finely bound in full blue levant morocco by Bayntum Riviere; From the text of William Caxton, edited by Alfred W. Pollard
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. Medici Society, London (1911). 4 volumes; 500 copies printed; Illustrated by William Russell Flint with twelve full colour illustrations
Malory, Thomas. The noble and joyous book entitled Le Morte Darthur. Ashendene Press, Chelsea (1913). notwythstondyng it treateth of the byrth, lyf, and actes of the sayd Kyng Arthur, of his noble knyghtes of the rounde table, theyr mervayllous enquestes and adventures, thachyevyng of the sangreal and in thende the dolorous deth and departing out of thys worlde of them al, whiche book was reduced in to Englysshe by Syr Thoms Malory, Knyght; 145 copies; 29 woodcut illustrations by W.H. Hooper and J.B. Swain after Charles H. Gere and Margaret Gere 2 full-page initials in red and blue by and after Graily Hewitt; Original full dark brown calf by designed by Douglas Cockerell and executed by W. H. Smith.
Malory, Thomas. The Romance of King Arthur. Macmillan Company, New York (1917). and His Knights of the Round Table: Abridged from Malory's Morte D'Arthur by Alfred W. Pollard; 250 copies printed; Illustration in gilt on front board, 16 colour, 7 black and white illus.; numerous vignettes by Arthur Rackhaml.
Malory, Thomas. The Romance of King Arthur. Macmillan Company, New York (1917). and His Knights of the Round Table: Abridged from Malory's Morte D'Arthur by Alfred W. Pollard; Illustration in gilt on front board, 16 colour, 7 black and white illus.; vignettes by Arthur Rackham; 500 copies printed.
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. Hale, Cushman/Jonathan Cape, Boston/London (1920). THE HISTORY OF KING ARTHUR AND OF HIS NOBLE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE; illustrated account of the legendary King Arthur with 24 color plates by W. Russell Flint; bound by Charles E. Lauriat
Malory, Sir Thomas. MORTE DARTHUR. Philip Lee Warner and The Medici Society, London (1920). The History of King Arthur and of His Noble Knights of the Round Table; 2 volumes; Illustrated with 36 color plates after watercolors by W. Russell Flint; Includes Caxton's preface and a biographical note on Malory by A. W. Pollard.
Tennyson, Alfred Lord. The Morte D'Arthur. Boots Ltd London (1920). An Idyl Of The King The Farrringdon Booklets; bw frontis + 3 other bw plates by Jessie M King; Malory, Thomas
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. Jonathan Cape and the Medici Society Ltd., London (1923). The Book of King Arthur and of His Noble Knights of the Round Table; 2 Volumes; 18 color plates by Russell Flint on coated stock, including frontispieces, bibliographical note by A. W. Pollard
Malory, Sir Thomas. Birth, Life and Acts of King Arthur. J.M. Dent, London (1927). and in the End le Morte Darthur; With an introduction by Professor John Rhys. And a note on Aubrey Beardsley by Aymer Vallance; Limited to 1,600 copies; Original black cloth over beveled boards stamped in gilt on front cover and spine in a design by Beardsley; With 365 designs by Beardsley, including twenty-two plates (six of which are double-page), decorative borders, initials, and chapter headings (the chapter heading on p. 368 previously unpublished).
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte d' Arthur. Turnbull and Spears, Edinburgh (1927). 300 copies; 14 illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte d' Arthur. E. P. Dutton and Co, New York (1927). The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur of His Noble Knights of the Round Table Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures The Achieving of the San Greal and in the End Le Morte D'Arthur with the Delourous Death and Departing out of this World of All of Them; Photogravure frontispiece, 4 double page and 17 full page illustrations, 43 ornamental borders, 300 ornamental initials, headpieces, other decorations in the text, and cover design by Aubrey Beardsley; 1600 copies printed.
Malory, Sir Thomas. LE MORTE DARTHUR.. J. M. Dent, London (1927). The Birth Life and Acts of King Arthur of His Noble Knights of the Round Table Their Marvellous Enquests and Adventures the Achieving the San Greal and in the end Le Morte D'Arthur with the Dolourous Death and Departing Out of this World of Them All; The text as written by Sir Thomas Malory and imprinted by William Caxton at Westminster; With an introduction by Professor John Rhys. And a note on Aubrey Beardsley by Aymer Vallance; limited to 1600 copies; photogravure frontispiece, 4 double page and 17 full page illustrations, 43 ornamental borders, 300 ornamental initials and other decorations in the text by Aubrey Beardsley.
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte D'Arthur. E P. Dutton and Company, New York (1927). Photogravure frontispiece, 4 double page and 17 full page illustrations, 43 ornamental borders, 300 ornamental initials and other decorations in the text by Aubrey Beardsley; Limited to 1600 copies
Malory, Thomas. Morte d'Arthur Portfolio. J.M. Dent and Sons Limited, London (1927). Reproductions of eleven designs omitted from the first edition of Le Morte Darthur; numerous woodcut initials, historiated head and -tail pieces, and 14 illustrations (including 1 half-tone reproduction of the original cover of Le Morte d'Arthur by Aubrey Beardsley; 300 copies.
Malory, Thomas. The Noble and Joyous Boke Entytled Le Morte DArthur. Shakespeare Head Press, Oxford (1933). William Caxton; Wynkyn de Worde; Adrian Spear Mott (text prepared by); Notwythstondyng it treateth of the byrth lyf and actes of the sayd Kynge Arthur: of his noble knyghtes and departynge out of this worlde of them al; Edition limited to 370 sets
Malory, Thomas. The Noble and Joyous Boke Entytled Le Morte DArthur. Shakespeare Head Press, Oxford (1934). Notwythstondyng it treateth of the byrth lyf and actes of the sayd Kynge Arthur: of his noble knyghtes of the rounde table, theyr merveyllous enquestes and adventures, thachyevynge of the Sanc-Greall and in the ende the dolourous deth; and departynge out of this worlde of them all; Which boke was reduced in to Englysshe by the well dysposyd knyghte Syr Thomas Malory; 2 volumes
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. The Medici Society (1935). 24 full colour plates by Sir William Russell Flint
Malory, Sir Thomas. LE MORTE D'ARTHUR. Limited Editions Club, New York (1936). THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR and OF HIS NOBLE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE; Illustrated with handsome wood engravings by master engraver Robert Gibbings who also designed the book. Preface of William Caxton. Edited with spelling and punctuation modernised by A. W. Pollard; 1500 copies printed.
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte D'Arthur. Golden Cockrel Press, London (1936). The Story of King Arthur and Of His Noble Knights of the Round Table, Written by Sir Thomas Malory, First Printed by William Caxton, Now Modernised, as to Spelling and Punctuation, by A.W. Pollard; Complete in three volumes; Illustrated with wood engravings by Robert Gibbins; 1500 copies
Malory, Thomas. MORTE DARTHUR. Limited Editions Club, New York (1936). THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR and OF HIS NOBLE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. now Modernised, as to Spelling and Punctuation, by A.W. Pollard; Illustrated with Wood Engravings by Robert Gibbings; 1500 copies printed.
Malory, Sir Thomas. Lancelot And Elaine. Hague and Gill, Buckinghamshire (1948). Being The Eighth To The Twentieth Chapters Of The Eighteenth Book Of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur; 200 copies; 2 full page and 3 vignette wood engravings by Joan Hassall
Malory, Sir Thomas. The Works of Sir Thomas Malory. Oxford University Press (1967). Edited by Eugene Vinaver; with 3 illustrations plus 9 plates
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. J.M. Dent and Sons, London (1972).
Malory, Sir Thomas. Le Morte Darthur. (1976). printed by William Caxton
Malory, Sir Thomas. The Winchester Malory. Boydell Brewer Ltd, United Kingdom (1976).
Malory, Thomas. The Winchester Malory. Early English Text Society (1977).
Malory, Sir Thomas. Chronicles of King Arthur. Folio Society, London (1982). I. The Tale of King Arthur. II. Sir Tristram de Lyonesse. III. The Morte DArthur; Revised and with an Introduction by Sue Bradbury; Foreword by Kevin Crossley-Holland; Lino-cuts by Edward Bawden.
Malory, Sir Thomas. Malory's Chronicles of King Arthur. Folio Society, London (1982). Illustrated with lino-cuts by Edward Bawden;3 volumes; Volume I: The Tale of King Arthur; Volume II: Sir Tristram de Lyonesse; Volume III: The Morte D'Arthur
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte D'Arthur. J. M. Dent and Co. Ltd, London (1988). Illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley: