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Johnson, Merle.
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates.
Publisher: Harper & Brothers Publishers, London;
Date of Publication: 1921
Stock Code: 9646
FIRST EDITION with the copyright code “D-V”. Small folio, pp. [xviii], 246, [2]. Illustrated with 36 full page plates of which 12 are in colour, three tipped-in vignettes as called for. Bound in the original quarter black cloth with fawn boards, lettered in black with colour illustration pasted to upper board, gilt titles and ornament to spine. Lightly sunned to upper spine tip, boards remarkably clean with crisp and vibrant illustration. Contents tight, secure, square, clean and free of inscriptions and annotations. Dust-jacket has minor loss to spine tips and some closed tears and larger patches some loss to lower panel. The book that gave us the flamboyant image of pirates that we have today, directly influencing Captain Jack Sparrow’s costume amongst others. David Cordingly names this book as one of the works that "no doubt helped to fix the image in people's minds" of the black flag with the white skull and crossbones. Howard Pyle’s most sought-after work, compiled by his publishers posthumously in honour of the artist. Heavyweight item so additional postage costs might be requested for overseas buyers.

£480.00