The Tain. Illustrated by Seaghan Mac Cathmhaoil. Dublin: Talbot Press, [1924]. Second Edition, Second Issue. Pp, [xii] 495. Publisher’s pale green linen boards, Celtic style design, blocked in dark green to upper & lettered on spine. Cloth along spine creased & faded, some mild spotting to preliminary leaver otherwise contents in nice bright condition.

Presentation Stamp from the Author to front free endpaper. Additionally Inscribed by Mary Hutton to Lady Powerscourt on front free endpaper.

Beautifully illustrated with pen and ink style plates by Joseph Campbell.

The Táin, known in English as ‘The Cattle Raid of Cooley,’ is one of the great Irish Sagas. There are many translations and illustrated versions. It is an epic tale, first written in the 7th century but preserved in various versions from the 11th to the 14th centuries with many modifications, additions and changes along the way. It tells the story of Queen Maeve, jealous of her husband’s white-horned bull, who determines to acquire the even more prestigious Brown Bull of Cooley from Ulster, ignoring the foretelling of a dreadful outcome should she proceed.

This version by Mary Hutton & illustrated by Joseph Campbell, deserves to be remembered as one of the masterpieces of the Irish literary and artistic revival. The first edition published in 1907 was not illustrated.