Note By William Morris on His Aims in Founding the Kelmscott Press, Together with a Short Description of the Press by S. C. Cockerell, & an Annotated List of the Books Printed Thereat; An Enlarged and Corrected Version Edited by William S. Peterson

xii, [2], 78, [4] pages. Illustrations. Notes. Index. Minor wrinkle at top of spine. William Morris (24 March 1834 - 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production. Morris' influence on Britain's artistic community became increasingly apparent as the Art Workers' Guild was founded in 1884. Morris deemed calligraphy to be an art form, and taught himself both Roman and italic script, as well as learning how to produce gilded letters. In 1891, he founded the Kelmscott Press to publish limited-edition, illuminated-style print books, a cause to which he devoted his final years. The William Morris Society founded in 1955 is devoted to his legacy, while multiple biographies and studies of his work have been published. When the press closed in 1898 it had produced over 50 works. A scholarly edition of the final Kelmscott Press book (1898) with much new information about Morris's "typographical adventure." The augmented text records variants from proofs and unpublished manuscripts and incorporates many corrections made later by Sydney C. Cockerell. Issued in conjunction with the centenary exhibition, William Morris: The Collector as Creator, held at the Grolier Club December 11, 1996 to February 15, 1997. Designed by William S. Peterson, and printed at the Stinehour Press in an edition of 750 copies. Quarter white cloth, Morris pattern boards. Enlarged and Corrected Version [stated]. Presumed first printing thus. One of only 750 copies.…