The Masterfolk signed presentation binding by Haldane Macfall 1904

MACFALL, Haldane. The Masterfolk. Author's Special Presentation Copy to Lady Florence Ward, in the Original Purple Silk Binding.
 
London: William Heinemann, 1904.
 
Special presentation issue, following the first edition of 1903. 8vo. Original purple watered-silk binding, the upper board elaborately lettered and decorated in gilt with a vertical sword and floral wreath design. With the engraved bookplate of Florence Ward to the front pastedown and an original signed presentation note from Haldane MacFall mounted to the front free endpaper. The silk is unevenly faded, with some fraying and minor wear at the joints, spine ends and corners, but the gilt decoration remains bright and the binding is firm. Preserved in a later custom-made purple morocco-backed drop-back box, the spine richly gilt in compartments. Very Good.
 
An exceptional authorial presentation copy in a binding devised by MacFall himself. His accompanying note establishes that only a small number of copies were specially bound for presentation to friends and describes the use of silk as his own experiment in book design. The publisher's rejection of the design in favour of conventional cloth evidently continued to amuse MacFall, who contrasts his silk binding with "the dull mode of the commonplace."
 
First published in 1903, The Masterfolk was MacFall's second novel and drew upon his experiences of artistic and bohemian life in London and Paris during the 1890s. The copy was presented to Lady Florence Ward, whose engraved bookplate remains on the front pastedown. It subsequently formed part of the library of Barry Humphries, although it does not carry his bookplate.