SALOME: A TRAGEDY IN ONE ACT; Inventions by John Vassos
New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1927. John Vassos. First Edition, Thus. Hardcover. Wide octavo, 9.5 in. x 7.1 in., pp. 57. Illustrated with thirteen full page black and white plates ("inventions") by John Vassos. Dark blue cloth boards with gilt title to front and spine. Light rubbing to extremities. Fading to top edge and bottom right corner of front board, and to top of spine. Decorated endpapers. Interior pages decorated with silver constellation of stars. Remnant of bookplate to front flyleaf. One inch bump to fore-edge of preliminary pages. Large closed tears and stains to dustjacket. Sunning to dustjacket spine. Very Good / Good Only. Item #86819
Wilde's retelling of the tale of King Herod, Jokannen and Salome, who dances for the king in exchange for whatever she requests, and her request? Well, worth reading the story, masterfully illustrated in black and white by John Vassos.
[John] Vassos gained acclaim as an illustrator prior to his rise as an industrial designer. Between 1927–1935, Vassos illustrated many books, including Salome, Ballad of Reading Gaol, and The Harlot's House and Other Poems – three literary works by Oscar Wilde published by E.P. Dutton. Vassos's iconic subjective illustrations were influenced by cinema and reflected cubist and constructivist, geometrical styles..." (As in Salome, Vassos's originals) "...were often in black and white gouache (opaque watercolor) and well suited for reproduction in mass media..." (Wikipedia).
Price: $200.00