[Macdougall, W. B.- Original Art] Three Large Border Designs for Book of Ruth in Pen and Black Ink

Three large original pen and black ink elaborate border designs for Macdougall's celebrated, "The Book of Ruth," executed in 1896, heightened with white, traces of graphite, two signed lower right, one dated '96, on thick wove paper and artist's board, each sheet approx. 475 x 360 mm. (18 3/4 x 14 1/4 in), with image size 10 x 11 1/2". Some pencil annotations as instructions to printer. Occasional spotting and light browning, surface dirt, unframed, circa 1896, (3). The book was issued later in 1896 by J. M. Dent, fully illustrated by Macdougall. "This book is filled with exquisite decorations. Patterns of great beauty flow around the pages, and testify to the power of invention possessed by the illustrator." [The Spectator, review of the Dent & Co. first edition of "The Book of Ruth", 19th December 1896, p. 24] A most rare and important example of what can only be termed the height of English Art Nouveau book design.

Price: $2,250.00   Item #3815