Octavo. (76)pp. Illustrated with ten wood engravings by Charles Ricketts - the largest number of illustrations in any Vale Press book. Gordon Ray cites this on his list of 100 outstanding illustrated books. (Ray/English 265). Though he never received sufficient recognition of his work from his contemporaries, the fact that Charles Ricketts is a major figure in the Art Nouveau movement is now "taken for granted." Some contend that his work marks the high point of British book design. In contrast with the books of the Kelmscott Press, Gordon Ray also notes that Vale Press books "are easier to handle, more varied in content and appearance, and pleasanter to read. Their greatest appeal, however, comes from the abundant decorations and illustrations which Ricketts himself designed and for the most part cut on wood." Charles Ricketts, in his autobiography, noted that the engravings for the Parables were "the high water-mark in my work, as far as design goes." (Ray-English, pp. 160,164). With the James Guthrie-designed bookplate of Ricketts's friend and fellow artist, T. Sturge Moore, to whom this book was dedicated. Prospectus tipped in before front endpaper. Faint scattered foxing, else fine and bright in original limp vellum, titled in gilt on spine.