New York: Brentano's, [n.d. 1920]. First American trade edition. Original light brown buckram pictorially stamped and lettered in red and blue on front cover and spine. Pictorial endpapers in black and white. Small booksellers label on rear paste-down. Heavy black stock for plate VI has neat repair, not affecting the image. . [128] pages. Twelve color plates mounted on heavy black stock, with descriptive tissue guards, and numerous designs in black and white in the text. Red lettering on spine a little rubbed, otherwise a Fine copy.

“Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, Mackenzie [1887-1944] studied at the Bradford College of Art and then at the Slade. When he finished his studies, he was commissioned by the publisher James Nisbet to illustrate in watercolour an edition of Arthur and His Knights [1920]. Most of his illustrative work shows the influence of Beardsley, Harry Clarke and colour plate illustrators like Kay Nielsen. The Crock of Gold [1926], for example, is illustrated with twelve colour plates and black and white decorative headings and tailpieces. He was also an etcher and engraver and contributed to the Sketch and other journals” (Horne). In the present, he takes on one of the most famous and oft-printed of the Arabian Nights. (Item #3677)