Books

New York: Brentano's, 1925. First American edition. Fine/Near Fine. Deluxe edition, one of 100 copies numbered and signed by the artist (this copy being No. 48), out of a total edition of 775 copies “for sale in the United States of America”). Large quarto (11 15/16 x 9 5/8 inches; 303 x 243 mm.). [12], 150, [1], [1, printer’s imprint] pp. Ten mounted color plates, with descriptive tissue guards. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Decorative endpapers. Original quarter vellum over cream paper boards. Front cover and spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt. A Fine copy in the Near Fine original printed dust jacket. From the renowned collection of Estelle Doheny, with her neat leather book-plate on front paste-down. Despite Léonard Rosenthal wanting Dulac to illustrate his book, Au Royaume de la Perle (The Kingdom of the Pearl) was first published in 1919 without illustrations. “But when, in 1920, Dulac found time to produce 10 pictures, Mr. Rosenthal not only purchased…

The Kingdom of the Pearl is an illustrated book by Leonard Rosenthal with illustrations by Edmund Dulac.

First editions can be identified by looking for the publisher's name, the date of publication and any distinguishing marks, such as a specific illustrator's signature (Edmund Dulac in this case) or distinct cover art. Additionally, absence of later printing information on the copyright page is often indicative of a first edition.