The Immortal Decameron (1916) 4 of 5 vols. One of 26 with original drawings by Nuyttens
New Castle, PA: C. B. Randall, 1916. Hardcover. Letter "T" of 26 lettered copies. Translated and illustrated by Josef Pierre Nuyttens. 4 of 5 volumes (lacking the last volume), folio, 15.25 x 11.25 inches, bound in full brown pigskin with watered silk endpapers and printed on very thick handmade paper. The first volume is in fair condition at best with front board detached and much rubbing and wear including a long jagged scar to cover. The other volumes are in very good condition with light wear to edges and joints, contents very good: a few of the plates have some faint rusty foxing to margins. Illustrated with 7 fine pen drawings, hand colored, by Nuyttens, and the publisher, C. B. Randall, has illustrated the volukmes with several smaller vignettes in ink, watercolor and gouache, and occasional hand-colored and illuminated letters, all initialed C. B. R.. It will be clear to anyone that Randall is without much talent, skill or sense of draughtsmanship, but he sure liked to make fancy books. He is also noted for publishing a lavish edition of the works of James Whitcomb Riley. Nuyttens (1885-1960) was a Belgian-American artist now mostly known for his illustrations for four non-Oz novels by L. Frank Baum. He died in a house fire that destroyed a good deal of his art. Fair. Item #H39369
Price: $500.00