[Signed] THE PRINCESS Christy, Howard Chandler; Tennyson, Alfred Lord [Very Good] [Hardcover]

Description

First Christy-illustrated edition of this mock-medieval Tennyson poem, very scarce signed. Howard Chandler Christy's art of elegant, attractive women led to him being hailed as the successor to Charles Dana Gibson, and the ""Gibson Girl"" of the 1890s and 1900s was soon replaced by the ""Christy Girl"" of the 1910s. Christy would go on to illustrate a number of famous WWI recruitment posters, including the iconic 1917 ""Gee I wish I were a Man, I'd Join the Navy."" THE PRINCESS was published just as the popularity of the Christy Girl was approaching its zenith, and showcases the artist's talent for depicting beautiful women (and men). Copies signed by him are very scarce. 11.5'' x 8.75''. Publisher's brown cloth pictorial boards with gilt, pink, and green stamping. Lacks front flyleaf. Illustrated in black, white, and red with color frontispiece and title page, with 15 color plates. [120] pages on coated paper. Signed by Christy to title page. Boards with some rubbing to edges with various careful infills. Fore-edge with a bit of soil. Leaves with occasional faint soil to margins, one leaf with small closed tear. Colors bright.