The Masterfolk signed to Vincent Starrett by Haldane Macfall first edition 1903

MACFALL, Haldane. The Masterfolk. First Edition, Inscribed by the Author to Vincent Starrett; Later Barry Humphries's Copy.
 
London: William Heinemann, 1903.
 
First edition. 8vo. Original rose-pink cloth, the upper board decorated with the sword and wreath design in green and black, titles and decoration in black to the spine. Inscribed by Haldane MacFall on the half-title: "To Vincent Starrett from the perpetrator", signed and dated January 1921. Further signed by Starrett above the half-title. With the pictorial bookplates of Vincent Starrett and Barry Humphries to the front pastedown. The cloth is rubbed, with some darkening to the spine, minor wear at the spine ends and corners, and occasional light spotting internally. An attractive copy. Very Good. Housed in a quarter leather box made by Sangorski & Suttcliffe / Zaehnsdorf. 
 
A superb literary association copy of MacFall's second novel, presented by the author to the American writer, bibliophile and critic Vincent Starrett. The Masterfolk follows the fortunes of artists, writers and society figures in London and Paris, drawing upon MacFall's own experience of late nineteenth-century artistic and bohemian circles. 
 
Vincent Starrett was an influential American author, journalist and collector, now best remembered for his writings on Sherlock Holmes and for his bibliographical and literary essays. He was also an early champion of neglected and unusual fiction. His ownership is particularly significant in relation to MacFall: Starrett later devoted a substantial essay to MacFall and The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer in Buried Caesars, helping to revive interest in an author whose work had already become difficult to obtain. The copy subsequently entered the library of Barry Humphries, whose bookplate appears beneath Starrett's.