London: The Ballantyne Press / Hacon & Ricketts / John Lane, 1901. First edition. A lovely copy of this pseudonymous work. One of 290 copies (Edition limited to 290 unnumbered copies, including 10 on vellum, we offer one of the 280 on Arnold's handmade paper). Green buckram spine, with paper covered boards. The paper shows leaves blowing in the wind. Slight bumping to the head and tail of the spine. The paper label is a little rubbed and darkened, but still legible. Externally very good overall. Inside, the book is an immaculate copy, with fractional foxing to the initial pages, and a touch of darkening to the front and rear end papers, otherwise spotless. Opening with a nice ornamented border in black figuring on top Janus, on left the medal of Comodus, and the Amazon and her moon-shaped shield, and below the Nemean lion's skin and Herakles' mace. Illustrations (including the paper boards) are by Charles Ricketts. Michael Field was a pseudonym used for the poetry and verse drama of the English authors Katherine Harris Bradley and her niece and ward Edith Emma Cooper. Although they had intended to remain anonymous, their identity became well known. Although published second, this work is intended as the first in the "Roman Trilogy" which recounts the downfall of Commodus. Ref. Watry B31. - Ransom, Vale Press, 31. - Tomkinson, Vale Press, 31. 88 / LXXXVII pages. (numbered in the book in numerals). 240 by 155mm (9½ by 6 inches).

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