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Blackwood, Algernon.
The Centaur.
Publisher: Macmillan and Co., Limited, London;
Date of Publication: 1911
Stock Code: 14633
First edition, in the first state binding. Octavo, pp., [8], 347, [1], [12] of publisher’s advertisements. Original publisher’s blue/green cloth, titled in gilt to spine and upper board, elaborate wraparound centaur design by Walford Graham Robertson embossed in blind to boards; with the same design to end-papers. Minor rubbing to joints, slight shelf-wear to extremities. Small, neat ownership inscription in ink to front-free end-paper and half-title. A very good copy. The first edition, in the first state binding, of Blackwood’s favourite of his own books (Ashley, ‘Starlight Man’). Combing classical mysticism, cosmic horror and philosophical inquiry the book is “One of the most effective mystical novels, deeply felt, very nicely imagined” (Bleiler, 54). Blackwood originally intended for Robertson to illustrate the entire novel in his distinctive style, but ultimately only the pictorial end-papers were completed. That design is replicated here in full embossed cloth. £350.00