Quest For Sita

London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1946. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Good. 11.5" by 8.5". Mervyn Peake. The first edition of Maurice Collis's retelling of 'The Ramayana', illustrated by Mervyn Peake, in the original dust wrapper and glassine. The first edition of this work. Limited to five-hundred unnumbered copies.In the original price-clipped dust wrapper, in the original glassine wrap. A beautifully illustrated retelling of this classic Sanskrit epic 'The Ramayana', written by Maurice Collis. Illustrated throughout by the renowned English writer, artist, poet, and illustrator Mervyn Peake, best known for his Gormenghast series of fantasy books.Peake was an English author who is best known today for his 'Gormenghast' books. He also illustrated editions of 'Hunting of the Snark', 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', 'Brothers Grimm', 'Treasure Island', and 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original price-clipped dust wrapper and glassine wrap. Externally, smart. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. A few minor marks to the boards. Light edge wear to the dust wrapper, with chips to the head of the spine and front wrap. Spine is a little age-toned with a few minor handling marks, and spots to the wraps, including the reverse. Glassine wrap is taped to the dust wrapper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Institutional stamp to the final leaf of text. Near Fine