Books

Limited Edition. Hardcover. A magnificent facsimile edition of the greatest book in the history of the English private press, "the most beautiful of all printed books" (as hailed by W. B. Yeats), and William Morris's masterpiece, this 2002 Folio Society facsimile of the Kelmscott Chaucer was limited to 1000 numbered copies offered exclusively to selected members of The Folio Society, of which this is number 694. Here, you'll find the glorious example of book binding and the decorative arts William Morris championed, with his medieval style 'Chaucer' fount, a type specially designed by Morris for his book, lavish ornamental borders, decorative capitals and frames he created, combined with the stunning woodcut illustrations of Edward Burne-Jones, presented once more over a hundred years later, now bound in full Nigerian goatskin at Smith Settle at Otley, Yorkshire, elaborately gilt decorated in a design redrawn by David Eccles from a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer bound by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson at the Doves Bindery in 1900, printed in two colors by Cambridge University Press on Oxenford twin-wire laid paper specially made to match the surface, bulk, and shade of the original at James Cropper, a small mill in the Lake District, with handmade laid endpapers from the Fabriano Mill, Italy, accompanied by an essay by William S. Peterson on the Kelmscott Chaucer, and housed in a custom clamshell box. "Even in the 21st century, the spirit of the Arts and Crafts Movement lives on." � " Joe Whitlock Blundell, Production Director Edition limited to 1000 (plus 10 hors commerce), of which this is 694. 17 1/8" X 11 7/8". 554pp. Bound in full Nigerian goatskin, gilt decorated in a design redrawn by David Eccles from a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer bound by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson at the Doves Bindery in 1900, printed in two colors by Cambridge University Press on Oxenford twin-wire laid paper from the James Cropper Mill. Darker brown to edge of spine, possibly from natural variations in goatskin. Accompanied by William S. Peterson's 15-page essay on the Kelmscott Chaucer, as issued. Housed in a blue buckram clamshell box, lettered in gilt to a goatskin title label at spine. Hard bumping to edges and extremities and scuffing to sides of clamshell box, which has done its duty in protecting its book, else fine. Ephemera related to the publication and promotion of this Folio Society facsimile edition of the Kelmscott Chaucer laid in: publication announcement, letter to subscribers from Production Director Joe Whitlock Blundell, priority application form, and a sample page representing the exact size and quality of the finished book.