The Mask; A monthly Journal of the art of the theatre; A quarterly journal of the art of the theatre; A monthly leaflet of the art of the theatre; An illustrated journal of the art of the theatre; An illustrated quarterly of the art of theatre. Volume One, Number 1 - Volume Fifteen, Number 4.
Florence: The Mask; Arena Goldoni, March 1908-October-November-December 1929. 87 numbers in 71 vols; 4tos, 8vos; various paginations; original printed wrappers. With additional ephemeral pieces. Occasional wear, especially to fragile spines; an excellent set. Item #207811
The complete set in original wrappers of Craig's longest-running and most influential periodical. The Mask was published at irregular intervals over some twenty years. It was produced by Craig almost singlehandedly and according to his exacting standards for quality, finely printed and handsomely illustrated, frequently with Craig's original graphics. To give the impression of a broader "movement" associated with it, Craig employed dozens of pseudonyms for the contents. Apart from Craig himself, however, the magazine did enjoy contributions from actual other writers and artists, historical and contemporary, including Max Beerbohm, W.B. Yeats, G. B. Shaw, Arthur Waley, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Stanislaw Wyspianski, and others. The entirety of the run reflects Craig's encyclopedic study of the theater and his Gesamtkunstwerk approach. While issues were printed on fine Italian paper that holds up quite well, the wrappers tended to more fragility and a complete set in wrappers is a rarity. Further to the numbers themselves, this set also includes two printed prospectuses (for the fourth and tenth volumes) and a card announcing the fourteenth volume; a typed, stamped, and initialed subscription receipt dated 1910. Fletcher & Rood E2.
Price: $10,000.00