The Knave of Hearts

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.

The final book illustrated by Maxfield Parrish and the most brilliant

(Item #1235) The Knave of Hearts. Louise Saunders, Maxfield Parrish.

The Knave of Hearts

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. First edition. A clean, Near Fine copy of the book. Original black cloth with mounted cover illustration and pictorial endpapers. Internal contents generally in excellent condition. Cover illustration lightly rubbed and a previous owner's name on the verso of the free endpaper. Complete with the full complement of illustrations by Maxfield Parrish, his last and most brilliant book illustration project.

Parrish worked for three years on the illustrations for the book, creating an elaborate model of the castle to use for his inspiration. Parrish was known and admired for his use of richly saturated colors and adaptation of neoclassical forms and settings. In adapting the famous tale from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Saunders' story finds a perfect companion in Parrish's stunning illustrations, which remain glowingly vibrant. In agreeing to work on the project, Parrish wrote: "You must understand all this layout to be in gorgeous color. The landscapes back of the figures in the cover lining - a very beautiful affair illuminated by a golden late afternoon sun: castles, waterfall, rocks and mountains" (Letter from Oct. 24, 1920 to H. Chapin of Scribner's).
Near Fine (Item #1235)