ORIENTALISM & THE GOLDEN AGE — THE ART OF EDMUND DULAC

Housman, Laurence (1865–1959) ; Dulac, Edmund (Illustrator)

Princess Badoura: A Tale from the Arabian Nights [10 Mounted Color Plates] [Golden Age of Illustration]

London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1913. Illustrated by Edward Dulac (1882-1953). First Printing, Trade.
A MASTERWORK OF EDWARDIAN BOOK DESIGN, FEATURING EDMUND DULAC’S RARE SHIFT INTO THE ‘SINO-PERSIAN’ AESTHETIC—A DEPARTURE FROM HIS EARLIER WATERCOLOR STYLE. 

For this 1913 retelling by Laurence Housman, Dulac adopted the flattened perspective and intricate patterning of Chinese and Persian miniatures, creating a visual coherence that critics consider his most 'modern' work. While many Golden Age books rely on generic fantasy tropes, Princess Badoura is a deliberate, scholarly homage to Eastern art, issued just as the 'Orient' was captivating the London avant-garde.

KEY FEATURES 
+++ Visuals: 10 magnificent color plates by Edmund Dulac, each mounted on heavy cardstock with captioned tissue guards. 
+++ Content: A witty and resilient retelling of the Thousand and One Nights by Laurence Housman (brother of A.E. Housman). 
+++ Binding: Original cream cloth elaborately decorated in turquoise and gilt; teal "peacock" endpapers. 
+++ Imprint: London: Hodder and Stoughton, [1913]. First Printing. 
+++ Specs: Quarto, 10.25 inches tall; [ii], 113 pages.

CONDITION: Good+ -- A sound, honest copy. Bindings are firm and square. The cream cloth shows moderate age-soiling and the spine is sunned (dimming the turquoise/gilt contrast). Small, neat tears at the spine ends and mild warping to the rear board. Interior is generally clean with foxing primarily at the endpapers and occasional light spotting. All 10 plates are untouched.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- 
Edmund Dulac was a titan of the 'Gift Book' era, but Princess Badoura stands apart for its stylistic evolution. By 1913, Dulac was moving away from the 'rackham-esque' murky tones toward the brilliant, saturated colors of the East. Laurence Housman’s text—emphasizing the agency and wit of the Princess—provided the perfect canvas for Dulac’s experiment in line and color. This volume is a primary example of how the Golden Age of Illustration transitioned into the early roots of Art Deco.

SUBJECTS: Edmund Dulac, Arabian Nights, Edwardian Illustration, Laurence Housman, Orientalism in Art, Fine Bindings, Illustrated Books, Folklore & Mythology, Golden Age of Illustration.

Item #20073

Price: $395.00