Arthur Conan Doyle's Medieval Romance "The White Company," 1897.

DOYLE, Arthur Conan. The White Company. New York: H. M. Caldwell Company, n.d. [1897].

First Edition Thus; early H. M. Caldwell illustrated issue in the publisher’s decorative green ribbed silk binding. Octavo (8vo). 362 pp. Original green ribbed silk, spine lettered and ornamented in gilt, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. Illustrated with a photographic portrait frontispiece of Arthur Conan Doyle and six full-page plates; decorative title page.

First published in 1891, The White Company is Doyle’s celebrated medieval historical romance, set during the Hundred Years’ War amid the campaigns of Edward the Black Prince. The novel follows the adventures of Alleyne Edricson, Samkin Aylward, and Sir Nigel Loring among the English free companies of the fourteenth century. Caldwell issued several American editions of the work during the 1890s; the present handsome illustrated issue is distinguished by its publisher’s green ribbed silk binding and gilt decoration.

Contents clean and fresh, with a former ownership marking to the rear endpaper. Binding remains sound and firm. The green ribbed silk remains bright and attractive, with only light shelf wear and minor rubbing; gilt remains bright and well defined. A Near Fine copy.

Reference: Green and Gibson, Bibliography of A. Conan Doyle, p. 595.

[Attributes: First Edition Thus; Hard Cover; Illustrated.]