The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer signed print by Haldane Macfall

MACFALL, Haldane (1860-1928). Signed presentation print from The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer, inscribed to collector Annesley T. Warre.

Printed illustration, image approximately 175 x 115 mm, signed in pencil by Haldane Macfall and additionally inscribed in pencil "To my friend Annesley T. Warre". Mounted beneath a contemporary green window mount, overall 350 x 280 mm. Some light toning and handling, the mount with minor age wear; very good.

A curious signed print associated with Macfall's first novel, The Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer. The image depicts the semi-nude Jezebel seated beside a tall candle, with flowers and a skull below, and is the design used for the pictorial binding of the 1898 first edition and subsequently as a frontispiece.

The precise origin of the present impression is unknown. Copies of the 1898 first edition are known in which a separately printed version of this design, described as a circular, was sometimes inserted by Macfall himself as a frontispiece. A presentation copy to Annesley T. Warre is also known, retaining another pencil-signed impression of the frontispiece and inscribed by Macfall to his "dear friend".  The same design was also used as the frontispiece to the 1913 reissue, and it is consequently not possible to date this particular impression securely from the image alone. Other than Macfall signed the image, with it being either an 1898 circular or 1913 frontispiece, in pencil and a previous owner, most likely Warre had it mounted for display. 

Annesley Tyndale Warre was a notable collector of books, Chinese ceramics and hardstones. Books from his library are also known with a distinctive bookplate designed by Macfall. A rare and unusual print, signed by the artist and author Macfall.