Hand and Soul.

First Kelmscott edition, one of 300 copies on paper issued in America, from a total edition of 525. This beautifully produced volume tells the fictional story of Chiaro dell'Erma, a young painter in medieval Italy who struggles with the purpose of art and life and presents Rossetti's ideals of Romantic aesthetics. The work was first printed in 1850 in the Germ, a short-lived Pre-Raphaelite magazine. Peterson A36. Small octavo. Elaborate woodcut borders on title page and facing first page of contents, decorative initials, shoulder notes printed in red. Contents printed in Golden type. Original limp vellum, spine lettered in gilt. Vertical crease to spine, tiny chips to spine head, light marks to vellum, trivial wear to turn-ins: a very good copy.