London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1904. The glory of this book! About a woman, translated by a woman, introduced by a woman (Vernon Lee was an art critic and writer of ghost stories who dressed “a la garconne”), with cover illustration by a woman!

A portrait of Saint Mary Magdalen, described in the introduction by Vernon Lee as “one of the absolutely satisfactory works, so few buy so exquisite of the Middle Ages”, is a translation from the original Italian by an unknown 14th century writer. Translated by Phyllis Valentina Hawtrey, who published various books on women’s issues under the pseudonym Valentine Caryl, and with a binding and Art Nouveau cover design, very much in the vein of Audrey Beardsley by renowned Scottish artist Jessie M. King, this stunning book unites Mary’s life story via criticism, translating craft, and the illustration genius of its three contributing women.

Hardcover, 8vo, A-S8. Green/blue buckram with guilted illustration by Jessie M. King. Top edge gilt. Very light wear on top and bottom edges of spine, as well as corners. Slight foxed throughout. A scarce title in very good condition. Ownership signature “E. M. Pilling” on free front end paper. Fourteen halftone plates displaying photographs of famous representations of Mary Magdalen, some of which can be found at the Louvre and the National Gallery.