Tales of Mystery and Imagination — Salesman’s Sample

[RACKHAM, Arthur.] Tales of Mystery and Imagination. By Edgar Allan Poe. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott [1935]. 8vo, [ii] 30pp. Black cloth pictorially stamped in gilt (casing created for the first edition, which has been folded for this copy such that the spine panel and its indentation appear on the rear cloth). Pictorial endpapers; 2 of the eventual 12 color plates, illustrated title page, 2 full-page b&w illustrations, and 4 smaller b&w illustrations. Spine ends and corners a tad rubbed, hinges a tad discolored (probably due to binders glue), else a remarkably clean, bright copy in original color pictorial dust jacket (2-inch closed tear at top of front hinge with some wrinkling to upper front corner, spine ends and rear corners a tad chipped, light edgewear, spine a tad sunned, 2 faint scratches to rear panel).

Salesmans Sample for the US issue of the first edition. Rackhams dark and haunting artwork lends itself perfectly to Poes tales of psychological horror. This exceedingly rare, sample copy was created prior to the publication of the first edition of this beloved interpretation to convince booksellers of exactly this and to ensure that they stocked their shelves with copies of the forthcoming edition. A fascinating piece that would be a true gem in any collection of Rackham or Poe.