c1910s-1920s A BOOK OF NOBLE KNIGHTS Herbert Hayens ILLUSTRATED Very RARE Book

c1910s-1920s A BOOK OF NOBLE KNIGHTS Edited by Herbert Hayens ILLUSTRATED Very RARE Book. 

This is an extremely scarce book, with a decorative cloth binding, and 15 colour plates, including a frontispiece. 

Part of ‘The Rainbow Series of Books’ and published by Collins’ Clear-Type Press, London And Glasgow. 

This is not dated, however it is thought to approximately 1910s and 1920s, when other books in this series were published. The Editor, Herbert Hayens, was born in 1861 and died in 1944. He worked at Collins & Co. as Chief Editor. He published fiction and non-fiction books between the late 1890s until the early 1930s. As this is an extremely scarce book, I have found no other copy online to compare it with. 

The title page of this book states that it is with 16 plates in full colour; however, there are only 15 plates inside this book, and some are out of order from what the list of illustrations state. However, I believe that these have not be re-adhered into the book, and appear to have been placed upon the initial binding. 

The plates inside this book, and their position in comparison to what the list of illustrations states, are as follows: 

  • 1. Before Battle: This is the Frontispiece; 
  • 2. Old English Sports-Water Tilting: This is facing page 17; 
  • 3. The esquire spent à night in church: This is in a different position to what is stated in the list of illustrations, and is before page 9 (double sided plate); 
  • 4. He followed him and asked for his help: This is facing page 32; 
  • 5. The knight made a fine speech: This is in a different position to what is stated in the list of illustrations and is facing page 34; 
  • 6. Finally they turned to their swords: This is facing page 49; 
  • 7. The christening of Louis IX of France: This is facing page 64; 
  • 8. Sir Galahad: This is facing page 72; 
  • 9. Here he saw Dorinda: This is facing page 81; 
  • 10. " Madam, accept your loyal English knight: This is facing page 96; 
  • 11. Colbrand threw down his glove: This is in a different position to what is stated in the list of illustrations and is facing page 104; 
  • 12. “All cladd in gray- ”: This is facing page 113; 
  • 13. The clothiers meet in London: This is facing page 128; 
  • 14. He bended his bow: This is facing page 161; 
  • 15. Clifton…. boasted that he would hit the clout every time: This is not included in this book; 
  • 16. An insurrection was raised by the Earl of Kendal: This is facing page 176. 
This is a wonderful compilation of different noble knights, and includes the following: 

  • Knighthood, 
  • Lord James Douglas, 
  • Sir Walter Manny, 
  • Bertrand Du Guesclin, 
  • Bayard, 
  • A Belgian Knight, 
  • A Kingly Knight, 
  • A Poet Knight, 
  • Sir Galahad, 
  • Guy Of Warwick, 
  • The Legend Of Sir Guy, 
  • Guy And Amarant, 
  • Thomas Of Reading, 
  • Before Bosworth, 
  • Robin Hood, 
  • George A Green, 
  • Robin Hood And The Widow's Three Sons, 
  • Bonny Dundee, 
  • Baldur, 
  • Sir Nicholas At Marston Moor. 
The light blue cloth bound boards and spine are intact and robust, but there is some wear, including patches of fading, light marks, discolouration, small rips in the cloth at the top and bottom of the spine, and corners. There is bumping to the corners. Please see the photographs provided for further reference. There is a wonderful colour illustration pasted to the front, surrounded by an ornate gilt border and gilt lettering and decorations on both the front board and spine. 

Inside, the pages are lightly tanned, which is consistent for a book of this age, but in an overall very neat and clean state, with only the very occasional light foxing. Just a couple of pages have small rips at their edges, but this does not affect the text.  On the front free endpaper there are remnants of pencil, however, there are no further pen or pencil marks written inside this book. The pages of text are tightly bound, but the plate facing page 72 is partially loose, but just to the top half and so still attached within the book. There are no missing pages of text and so all 256 pages are present. Please study the photos carefully as to the condition of this book, as they do form part of the description. 

This measures approximately 20.7 cm by 15 cm and 3.8 cm wide. It weighs approximately 537 grams. 

Thank you so much for looking.