Item #39254 The Dragon of the Alchemists. Frederick - INSCRIBED CARTER, SIGNED, Arthur Machen, SIGNED.
The Dragon of the Alchemists.
The Dragon of the Alchemists.
The Dragon of the Alchemists.

The Dragon of the Alchemists.

London: Elkin Matthews, Ltd., 1926. First Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto. 54pp text + 38 wood engraved plates of alchemical symbolism. Quarter black cloth over blue/grey paper covered boards, gilt title to spine, fore-edge uncut. Illustrations by Frederick Carter. This copy inscribed in pencil on the first blank "......with the author's regards, Frederick Carter." Also signed in pencil by Carter on the title page. Carter was friend and co-editor of Form Magazine with Austin Osman Spare, and in his own right an interesting alchemist of the spirit. "The Dragon of the Alchemists" comprises an essay and thirty-eight drawings, some of which are indeed strongly reminiscent of Spare, whilst others are more conventional in their mystical allegory. Boards a little darkened at outer edges, spine ends and corners lightly bumped and rubbed, endpapers unevenly browned, Watkins bookshop sticker on front endpaper, faint foxing to half title page, pages a bit browned at margins. Overall a tight, unmarked VG+ copy in Fair dust jacket. (Dust jacket somewhat darkened and grubby. Rubbed chipped and creased at all edges, spine sunned, long closed tear on front panel repaired on inside with paper tape, lacking about one inch of upper edge of rear panel. Now protected by removable mylar cover.). Item #39254

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