The Mabinogion (1902)

Lady Charlotte Guest's translation, with many handwritten annotations and marginalia

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First thus. Small hardback, bound in green cloth with gilt titling to spine and upper board, and Welsh dragon rampant in red to the upper board. Top edge gilt. 15.5 × 10cm, xi + 363pp, 4pp ads.

Drawing on myth, folklore and history, the stories of the Mabinogion passed from generations of storytellers before they were written down in the thirteenth century in the form we know. Set in dual realms of the forests and valleys of Wales and the shadowy otherworld, the tales are permeated by a dreamlike atmosphere. In 'Math Son of Mathonwy' two brothers plot to carry off the virginal Goewin, while in 'Manawyddan Son of Llyr' a chieftain roams throughout Britain after a spell is cast over his land. And King Arthur's court provides the backdrop to tales such as 'Kilhwch and Olwen, or, The Twrch Trwyth', in which a young man must complete many tasks before he can marry a giant's daughter.

This copy is made rather special by a previous owner's handwritten annotations throughout. They cover the endpapers and are scattered throughout the margins, with some notes added to the text. There's no clues as to the identity of the annotator, but they appear to be about the same time as publication.

Condition

A good copy. Whilst the book remains in readable condition, there are, as mentioned, many annotations to the margins, endpapers and underlining to the text. To my mind, this enhances the copy. The cloth is rubbed and the corners a bit bumped but otherwise an attractive copy of a rare edition.