"The White Robe: A Saint's Summary", by James Branch Cabell with 8 full page Art Deco illustrations by Robert E. Locher; published by Robert M. McBride & Company, New York, 1928, First Limited Edition, "Of this volume "The White Robe", 3290 copies have been printed from type in October, 1928, of which 3250 are for sale."

Faux wood hard boards [a little edge wear], genuine leather spine; c. 9.3/4" x 12"; ex-libris inside cover, two color title page; unpaginated - 95 pages printed on Italian medieval recipe hand-made Fabriano paper; page edges untrimmed; eight full-page drawings; very good condition.

Provenance:

There is an ex-libris inside front cover. It is the Crest of the Witt Family, hand signed "Jean Hunton Witt Cabell, from the author 1930."

"Jeanne Hunton Witt Cabell (1907-1976) was the daughter of Judge Samuel Brown Witt, of Richmond's Hustings Court, and Mariana Foster Witt. Jeanne was married to Robert Gamble Cabell, the nephew of the book's author, James Branch Cabell (1905-1981). The Cabell family lived in Richmond, Virginia. Jeanne H. Witt Cabell was deeply involved in Richmond's arts and culture scene as society editor of the "Richmond Times-Dispatch" in the late 1920s.

James Branch Cabell (1879-1958) was an American author of fantasy fiction. Cabell was well-regarded by his contemporaries, including H.L. Mencken, Edmund Wilson, and Sinclair Lewis. His works were considered escapist and fit well in the culture of the 1920s, when they were most popular.

Today, some recognize Cabell as one of the first contemporary writers from the South. Like his friend and fellow Richmond writer Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945), Cabell was not afraid to satirize what he saw as the South's contradictions. Others, noting Cabell's unique blending of classic myths and legends with his own imagination, consider him a pioneer of fantasy writing. His work has been admired by a diverse group of writers, including Carl Van Vechten, Margaret Mitchell, Robert Heinlein, and Neil Gaiman.

Robert E. Locher (1888-1956), artist, theater designer, interior designer, and longtime friend of Charles Demuth. Locher was well known for his illustrations in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and House and Garden, as well as interior design. He was considered one of the leading modern designers of the 20th century. Prolific during his time and well respected by his contemporaries, some of Locher's clients included Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and Juliana Force.

Born at the end of the 19th century, Robert E. Locher developed an eye for the modernization of America while incorporating the classical elements of previous generations. This ability to combine the classic and the modern catapulted him to the forefront of American design in the late twenties and early thirties, a ground-breaking time in American culture and aesthetics. He left an indelible mark on the future of modern design in America. In all his work, Locher remained steadfast to his ability to bridge between the timelessness of classic design and the contemporary modes of the modern world. [Charles Demuth Foundation and Museum, Lancaster, PA]

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