(London: Hodder and Stoughton, [c.1920]).

FIRST EDITION OF THIS DIFFICULT-TO-FIND AND CHARMING BOOK. In this lovely tome, Brickdale relates passages penned by the greatest authors including Shakespeare, Dante, Byron, Coleridge, Burney, Wordsworth, Tennyson, amongst others, about 52 notable women from both literature and history; including Cleopatra, Guinevere, Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth, Hester Prynne and Joan of Arc. She illustrates a number of the passages with lush colour paintings in intricate pre-Raphaelite detail. Brickdale is perhaps best known for her illustrations which graced the pages of Tennyson’s IDYLLS OF THE KING, but this book is unquestionably of equal appeal. Item #34579

First edition. With 16 beautiful tipped-in colour plates by Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale. 4to, publisher’s original light blue cloth, the spine gilt lettered, the upper cover lettered in red, both spine and upper cover with elaborate vignettes and flowers in black. viii, 200. A bright and clean copy, the interior essentially free of the common toning and with only a very rare and occasion touch of spotting, the plates all bright and very fine, the cloth with only light mellowing and a touch of age to the tips and corners.