Title and 26 plates tipped to brown paper leaves. (Folio) 40x32 cm. (15¾x12½"), original pictorial cloth, all edges gilt. Plates measure only 31x23.5 cm. "Library Edition."
The desirable and scarce larger "Library Edition" format of Nicholson's marvelous, and artistically innovative series of portraits illustrating the alphabet ("A was an Artist" - actually a self-portrait, "B for Beggar," "C is for Countess," etc.). This was the first of five works he illustrated for William Heinemann. Generally considered Nicholson's most widely admired collection of English Art Nouveau poster-style lithography.
