The Imperfect Illusion | W.M. Pogge van Ranken | Anton Pieck | 1957

A beautifully designed Dutch edition from 1957, in which Anton Pieck's world perfectly complements a remarkable journey to the England of Henry VIII.

In The Imperfect Illusion by W.M. Pogge van Ranken, Joachim van Weinjerven is transported from the twentieth century to the year 1545. His idealized view of the past is severely tested there. The result is a historical novel with an imaginative premise, set against the backdrop of the Tudor court.

For this edition, Anton Pieck provided not only the illustrations, but also the cover design and the original dust jacket. Beneath the fragile paper dust jacket is a particularly fine light blue linen cover with decorative printing in gold and blue. Several of Pieck's characteristic illustrations are included throughout the book, including full-page drawings and a colored title illustration.

Notably, an original publisher's reply card has also been preserved. The book itself is in very well-preserved condition. The original dust jacket is present, but shows clear discoloration, wear, and minor damage consistent with its age.

• Author: W.M. Pogge van Ranken
• Title: The Imperfect Illusion
• Subtitle: A Romantic Journey to the Court of Henry VIII
• Publisher: Ad. M.C. Stok, Zuid-Hollandsche Uitgevers Maatschappij, The Hague
• Year: 1957
• Dutch translation: Hans de Vries
• Dust jacket, cover design and illustrations: Anton Pieck
• Edition: cloth-bound book with linen cover and original paper dust jacket
• Decoration: gold and blue printing
• Illustrations: several illustrations by Anton Pieck, partly in color
• Pages: 237
• Top edge: blue
• Extra: original publisher's reply card present
• Dimensions: approx. 24 x 16.5 cm
• Thickness: approx. 3.5 cm
• Language: Dutch
• Book condition: very good for its age, with normal discoloration
• Dust jacket condition: fragile, discolored, with edge damage and signs of wear