A House of Pomegranates. London: Osgood, 1891. First Edition. Pp, 158. Upper board printed in light red and stamped with gilt designs of a peacock, a running fountain, and a basket of split pomegranates. Spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt. Decorative end-papers printed in olive green. All edges uncut. Light shelf-wear, but overall a very nice & bright copy of this delicate book.

One of 1000 Copies Printed. Four full-page inserted illustrations by C. H. Shannon, facing each is an inserted leaf having on the verso a small design by Charles Ricketts & with numerous drawings throughout the text.

‘The four plates were printed in Paris by some ‘improved’ process. After the book was finished and bound it was noticed that a dusty deposit had formed on each plate, probably owing to some chemical impurity either in the printer’s ink or in the chalky paper used. To take off this deposit each plate was rubbed with soft flannel, which removed the surface and left the reproductions faint and in some cases almost obliterated.’

Oscar Wilde, in letter to The Speaker, December 5th, 1891 said in defense & praise of this publication: “Mr. Shannon is the drawer of dreams, and Mr. Ricketts is the subtle and fantastic decorator.”

This is one of Ricketts & Shannon’s early collaborations, before they went on to form the Vale Press in 1896. Tales included are: The Young King, The Birthday of the Infanta, The Fisherman and His Soul, and The Star-Child.

Although Wilde’s fairy tales were seemingly for children, the author in fact intended them more for the attention of adults.  [Mason 347]