THE WORKS OF MR. FRANCIS RABELAIS: Doctor in Physick. Containing Five Books of the Lives, Heroick Deeds and Sayings of Gargantua and His Sonne Pantagruel.
London: Navarre Society Ltd., no-date [1921]. First thus. Two volumes with nearly 100 illustrations by Robinson including the two frontis pieces. Originally published by Grant Richards in 1904 in a quarto edition, privately reprinted for the Navarre Society in this reduced (octavo) format. Geoffrey Beale (Book Collector No. 40) notes: "To those who think of him as a gentle humorist, perhaps the most surprising of Heath Robinson's books is the edition of Rabelais....To the unprepared reader, finding here visions of hell that are truly horrific, and a raw power and earthiness that is exactly in tune with Rabelais' narrative style, might well ask whether this is the work of the same artist." Shimmering blue cloth (Blanck's AA) boards with gold stamped lettering, design and rule; page top edges gilt. Spines toned (gilt still quite bright), light unavoidable offset to endpapers, small stain and tiny hole in rear blank volume I which has also shows rear hinge repair. Still, an altogether attractive set.
Item #71653
Price: $125.00