4to. Illustrated with numerous plates and vignettes by Beresford Egan. (Some light marginal toning or spotting.) Original niger, gilt-lettered on upper cover and spine (spine slightly darkened, some wear to board edges, hinges tender).  Provenance: Francis John Beck (bookplate dated 1972); Barry Moser (bookplate).

 

LIMITED EDITION, number 38 of 100 copies printed on special paper, SIGNED BY EGAN AND DE SHANE. Includes the suppressed plate “The Moralist.” Beresford was a satirical draughtsman, painter, novelist, actor, costume designer and playwright. He was born in London but grew up in South Africa following a family move when he was five years old. He returned to London in July 1926 after spending two years as a sports cartoonist on the Rand Daily Mail in Johannesburg. His art was highly influenced by Aubrey Beardsley and many of his illustrations were in an erotic vein. Egan was one of the few original British exponents of Art Deco.