Thomas Malory - La Mort D'Arthur: The Most Ancient and Famous History of the Renowned Prince Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - R. Wilks, 1816, First Edition.

London, R. Wilks, 1816. First edition, first impression. Hardback. A very good copy. Three volumes, complete. An important entry in the Arthurian canon. I guess it's technically the eighth edition given the six editions between Caxton's 1485 issue and the 1634 edition published by Jacob Bloome. Then boom, like a stagecoach two centuries later, two turn up at once (actually three if you include Southey's of 1817). The Walker and Edwards edition of 1816 seems to have been published prior to this Wilks edition, though the text seems to have been prepared in 1815 given the preface. Of the three, it appears the Wilks issue sold the poorest, perhaps given the editing of all the fruity language. The text is based on the 1634 edition, and the book includes a folding plate replicating an illustration from that edition and a copy of the title page. From the library of S.A.S. Metheny. This copy includes a note from writer George Lillie Craik about the various editions, including the other 1816 edition and Southey's 1817 issue (later backing on the note). Presumably later cloth, though still fairly old, fairly amateurish covering but presentable enough. The labels have faded though. Rubbing to the lower edges. One volume has pretty much split at the lower hinge. Internally excellent. [10720, Hyraxia Books].