The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

Drei Masken Verlag, Munich, 1923

First edition with wood engravings by Frans Masereel. No. 115 of the limited edition of 250 on laid paper. Signed by Frans Masereel in the imprint.

Description: Original half calf over marbled boards, gilt title to spine. Quarto: 28 × 18,5 cm; pp. 57, [4] ll. With 37 original woodcuts (of which 7 full-page, printed recto only) by Frans Masereel.

Ref.: Ritter: C 29, S. 258; Rodenberg: 448

Condition: Binding somewhat scuffed at joints and corners and partly faded. Contents clean and free of marks, but slightly toned with age. Overall a very good copy.

Notes: The Ballad of Reading Gaol was printed by Offizin Mandruck in Munich as the 11th Obelisk print with the original English text. The woodcuts were cut by Masereel in early 1923 and were printed from the original woodblocks. In addition to this edition, 70 copies were published, numbered I to LXX, in which the full-page woodcuts were also signed by Masereel, and 20 unnumbered and unsigned copies.